American Defenders In Full Retreat

And, no, we're not talking about some kind of filibuster on Capitol Hill over the CIC's new health-care initiative...

It's an Independent League team based in Nashua, New Hampshire ((pictured, thanks Bob Hammerstrom/Nashua Telegraph)) and they forgot to pay their bill to play in the ballpark they're in...

Tom King of the Nashua Telegraph continues:

"I'm not happy about it," Lozeau said. "It is what it is. There were no options . . . The agreement (with the city) does not give them the right to play a game. It's unfortunate. (The owners) had multiple options. The four principals (Buddy Lewis, Terry Allvord, Dan Duquette and Jerry O'Connor) could have made a decision to make it right. They chose not to make it right."

Instead, the Defenders will use Brockton's Campanelli Stadium today for a 2 p.m. doubleheader against the Jackals, as the Brockton Rox are at Quebec.

The postponed Tuesday game is a forfeiture on the part of New Hampshire to New Jersey so there is no need for an extra game Thursday.

As for compensating ticket holders to these games, Duquette said that's "under consideration right now."

"We tried to avert this with discussions we had with the city," Duquette said. "We couldn't seem to satisfy the city and forestall the inevitable. We're doing the best we can. It's been a tough market and a tough year. It's disappointing for everybody. You try to do the best you can with what you have and where you are."

Duquette added the team will try to work out a further payment plan with the city and its vendors, but will vacate the offices at Holman Stadium on or before Aug. 31.

Andy Hershberger was live outside the ballpark for WMUR-TV in Manchester to explain the whole thing- which boiled down to needing to pay the city about $40-grand.


Anybody know where we can get some gear...???