Brett Johnson’s eyes widened as he looked around Sal Maglie Stadium. But the ballpark’s dimensions weren’t why he reacted that way.
Johnson was already comfortable playing in Niagara Falls. In the last year alone, the Williamsville resident played in the outfield for the Niagara Power in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League and then with SUNY Niagara.
But, up until Friday, Johnson hadn’t experienced a game as a home player as festive as the one he played in. A dance team and a marching band helped welcome the Niagara Falls Americans and owners, Robbie and Nellie Nichols, of CAN-USA Sports.
Tuesday’s game against Newark marked the Americans’ fifth game of existence. And while they’re still aiming for their first win, Johnson and his Niagara Falls teammates embraced the energy in starting a new chapter in the city’s history on the diamond.
“Being on the team last year, when it was the Power, we didn’t have a whole lot of fans,” Johnson said. “So, being able to play in that home opener with a little bit of some fans there was really cool. And, the excitement coming to the field is awesome. The guys are awesome to be around. Everyone jokes around. Everyone has fun. I think we’re really close to breaking out soon.”
Johnson is one of four returning players from the Power, which finished 22-19 and missed qualifying for the PGCBL playoffs on the final day of the regular season. And while the majority of their 32-man roster features players from SUNY Niagara and D’Youville or players with local ties, the Americans also have a familiar face in manager Michael Gabriele.
Coaching the Power last season was Gabriele’s first attempt as a manager, following a five-year career at Niagara and two years as a graduate assistant at Missouri Western State University. Gabriele received a call from Robbie Nichols during the fall with an offer in coaching the Americans after watching him coach the Power.
With so many options for summer ball available, creating the Americans roster was a year-round process for Gabriele with calling or emailing college coaches for more information on potential players, as well as contacting past players. Eight SUNY Niagara players, including Gasport’s Gavyn Boyle and Niagara Falls’ Jude Lowry, are on the team along with Niagara’s C.J. Hurley and Carolina University’s Brandon Moore.
Finding players based on talent alone wasn’t the only factor Gabriele and Robbie Nichols had to consider. A player’s availability to travel to Niagara Falls and if the player is the best fit for the team and the league, skill-wise and personality-wise.
And with a year under his belt, Gabriele learned to avoid overcoaching after watching his colleagues in the PGCBL let their players go and perform. With players coming fresh off their college season, Gabriele wants the Americans to compete but also have fun.
“These are all guys that play at a high level but it’s also important to look at the grand scheme of things,” Gabriele said. “This is summer baseball, so, it’s not going to be a super grueling and restrictive summer for them. We want them to have fun while they play. After all, it is a game, so being able to kind of let them have fun while they play, that’s one thing that we’re going to continue to do as the summer goes on.”
Having fun, but also playing locally led Dalton Harper to the Americans. After playing out of state at Georgia Southern for his freshman season, the Buffalo resident wanted to keep playing but in a home area setting.
Just three days after the semester ended, Harper suited up for Niagara Falls in its 12-11 season-opening loss at Batavia on June 2. Harper, a Maryvale graduate, currently leads the team with a .417 average and four RBIs and has helped spread the word about the Americans in the community.
On Wednesday, Harper was one of seven players in jerseys who participated in a meet-and-greet at Wegmans’ on Military Road in Niagara Falls. The event helped spread awareness about the Americans’ season, including passing out schedules and free tickets for an eventually postponed doubleheader Sunday.
“It was just trying to get personal with people that maybe either don’t know about the Americans or want to know about the Americans,” Harper said. “So, we can try and build that relationship and get them to come watch some games.”
