By Nate Beutel<br><a href="mailto:beuteln@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Nate</a>
Cal Kern is a big believer in building the character of local youths. After all, the Niagara Power general manager has made that his No. 1 objective with his second-year New York Collegiate Baseball League ballclub.
So when veteran youth baseball coach Al George gave Kern a call earlier this summer to see if he was interested in forming an affiliation, Kern’s answer was easy.
“Why not?,” the Grand Island resident said. “We’re all for any avenues of building baseball in the Niagara Falls area. We want to help anyway possible.”
So after years of coaching with the Cayuga Youth Athletic Association and its Heat travel teams, George decided that it would be best to start his own 12-and-under travel baseball team under the name Niagara Junior Power. The team is to wear replica uniforms and hats that include the Power logo and colors.
Additionally, the Junior Power and their families will lend a helping hand during the home schedule at Sal Maglie Stadium. In return, the team will be given the opportunity to act as batboys, compete in on-field activities and receive instructional clinics from Power players and coaches. There will be no financial transactions between the two organizations, Kern said.
“We’re going to be an independent travel team that’ll play in the Boys of Summer or Northcoast League, but we wanted to team up with the big Power to help give back to the community and show the kids that there’s more to life than just baseball and sports,” George said.
For Kern, it’s also an opportunity to hopefully grow the team’s booster club and fan base. The GM also said he’s open to having any local baseball or softball teams jump on board.
“We don’t want to take kids away from other organizations, we just want to help local baseball in general,” Kern said, while adding anyone interested in beging affiliated with the Power should contact him at 289-1342.
