For recent Iolani School graduate C.J. Johnson, the Hawai'i Collegiate Baseball League is a way to get ready for the next level even before getting there.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu all-star outfielder is one of the few prep players who will get an early acquaintance with the college game in this league, primarily composed of four-year college players and junior college players headed to four-year programs.

"I just want to become an overall better player," Johnson said.

But Johnson, who is signed with Central Arizona junior college, said he hopes to attract a Division I program looking for a last-minute sign.

Johnson, who will play for the Waikiki Surfers, is one of a multitude of players with varying playing experience in the second-year league. The HCBL plans to seek NCAA and Major League Baseball certification by next season as it continues to smooth out the kinks of a new venture, league chairman Al Kam said.

The league has expanded from four to six teams, with the Waimea Waves and Kaua'i Menehunes joining the inaugural teams — Kamuela Paniolos, O'ahu Paddlers, the Surfers and Hawai'i Ali'is. The league's 35-game schedule runs today to July 25 daily, except for most Mondays. The season culminates with a four-day tournament that runs July 26 to 29. All games of the wooden bat league will be played at Aloha Stadium. An all-star game is set for July 4.

The teams practiced yesterday at Aloha Stadium. Some players were still arriving from the Mainland.

For Landon Nakata, an all-state shortstop for Punahou in 2005 and a Penn State reserve infielder, the league allows him to develop while spending summer at home.

"It's a good place to keep in shape and the competition is good," said Nakata, who will play for the Waves.

Nakata is one of a number of players who played high school ball here, but have gone on to play at colleges on the Mainland.

Also joining the mix are four University of Hawai'i recruits: pitchers Nick Rhodes, Josh Schneider and Cameron Wheeler and outfielder Evan Zimny. They all are assigned to the Waves.

Rhodes is a left-hander from Cypress JC in California, while Schneider, from Cochise JC in Colorado, and Wheeler, from Yavapai JC in Arizona, are right-handers. Zimny played at Cosumnes River JC in California. For Zimny, the league's setup is perfect. Since the league's players are housed in apartments just outside UH's lower campus, he is a pop fly away from the school's facilities.

"I want to hit the weight room this summer," Zimny said.

The league also keeps coaches active. The Ali'i's coach is 1984 Kalaheo graduate Carl Fraticelli, who recently resigned as coach at Diablo Valley JC in California after three seasons. He enjoys helping in the development of the players in the league.

"I love coaching this age (of players)," he said. "There are a lot of kids from different programs you have to mold into one team in six weeks and hope to make them better."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.