Niagara Power
The Niagara Power is a collegiate summer baseball team in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL).
| Niagara Power Founded in 2007 Niagara Falls, New York | |
| Minor league affiliations | |
|---|---|
| League | New York Collegiate Baseball League |
| Division | western division |
| Minor league titles | |
| Division titles | 2019 |
| Team data | |
| Mascot | Bolt |
| Ballpark | Sal Maglie Stadium |
Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Niagara University College of Hospitality and Tourism Management |
History
Founded in 2007 the team played in the NYCBL a 46-game schedule, with 23 home games at Sal Maglie Stadium[1] for nine seasons, from 2007 through 2015. The team owner and general manager was Cal Kern.
After missing the playoffs in each of its first four seasons, Niagara made playoff appearances in four of the last five seasons (2011, 2012, 2014 & 2015), taking home the Western Division Championship in 2012. Niagara lost to the eventual NYCBL champion in its last three playoff appearances (Syracuse in 2012, Hornell in 2014 & Olean in 2015). Niagara was the only team to take at least one game against Hornell during the 2014 playoffs and a game against Olean in the 2015 playoffs.
The team was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a charitable organization which encourages community outreach among athletes.[2] The Power were noted for their service to the Niagara community.[3]
Affer a two-year hiatus, Niagara University announced in October 2017 that its College of Hospitality and Tourism Management purchased the Niagara Power and that the school's sports management department would operate the team. The purchase makes NU the first university in the country to own and operate a summer collegiate baseball team.[4]
In the first season (2018) following the takeover by Niagara University's College of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the team went 23–19, making the playoffs. The team lost in the first round (one game) at Olean in the playoffs.
In the 2019 season the Power broke the team's record for wins in advancing to the team's second NYCBL championship series. The team set a record for wins with 30 in the regular season and 34 overall. The team defeated the Mansfield Destroyers 2 games to 1 in the Western Division Championship Series to advance to the NYCBL Championship. The team defeated the Cortland Crush 2 games to zero to win the team's first NYCBL championship in its 11-year history and Niagara Falls' first non-scholastic title since the Rapids in 1993.[5]
| Season | W-L | Playoffs? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30-11 | Yes (4-1) | Def. Mansfield 2–1 in Western Division Finals
Def. Cortland 2–0 in NYCBL Championship Series (First NYCBL Championship) |
| 2018 | 23-19 | Yes (0-1) | Lost to Olean 1–0 in Western Division first round |
| 2015 | 25–21 | Yes (3–3) | Def. Hornell 2–1 in the Western Division Semifinals Lost to Olean 2–1 in Western Division Finals |
| 2014 | 22–24 | Yes (1-2) | Lost to Hornell 2–1 in the Western Division Semifinals |
| 2013 | 13–27 | No | n/a |
| 2012 | 24–17 | Yes (4–2) | Def. Olean 2–0 in the Western Division Semifinals Def. Geneva Twins 2–0 in the Western Division Finals Lost to Syracuse Junior Chiefs 2–0 in the NYCBL Championship Series |
| 2011 | 24–20 | Yes (0–1) | Lost to Geneva in the Western Division Semifinals (single-game) |
| 2010 | 18–26 | No | n/a |
| 2009 | 11–29 | No | n/a |
| 2008 | 14–26 | No | n/a |
| 2007 | 17–25 | No | n/a |
| TOTAL | 191–234 | 8–9 | 191-235 |
References
- "Fast Facts - New York Collegiate Baseball League - NYCBL". nycbl.com.
- FCA Summer Collegiate Baseball Ministry Archived 2009-12-22 at WebCite at fcabaseball.org, URL accessed December 22, 2009. Archived 12/22/09
- Niagara Power sets sights on making the playoffs at buffalonews.com, URL accessed December 22, 2009. Archived 12/22/09
- "Niagara Power baseball will be turned back on with help of NU students". 21 April 2018.
- scoreboard@gnnewspaper.com, Michael Canfield. "Niagara Power sweep Cortland to earn first title". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved 2019-07-30.