Bad Weather Shortens Defenders' Season
 Photos by Michael Radomski
Pittsfield assistant coach Bob Warn points to some visitors on surf boards. Read all about the Wahconah flood here. |
The Pittsfield American Defenders will not have a chance for either one.
Late last night, NECBL Commissioner Mario Tiani sent league officials and general managers an e-mail and plan for the upcoming postseason. Danbury and Holyoke will meet in a one-game playoff on Saturday while Vermont has secured a playoff spot as well. The North Adams SteepleCats were to play a makeup game against Holyoke Blue Sox this morning but that, too, was canceled.
The American Defenders are currently 13-25 and still have another four games left on the schedule that won't be completed.
Pittsfield is currently five games out of the playoffs and has been eliminated from contention as well.
General manager Jon Tosches called a team meeting at 10 o'clock this morning and announced the news to all coaches and remaining players.
"For all of you who haven't heard by now, our season has ended," said Jon Tosches in front of a packed room. "The league decided to end the regular season today and we unfortunately will not have another game this season."
Pittsfield's Wahconah Park has been under water since Wednesday night following a torrential storm that brought 4 inches of rain to the area.
The Defenders have had a very wet 42-game season this year. The team has been rained out 11 different times, have been suspended by rain another four nights, and have even had to shorten games twice because of the rain.
Pittsfield's last game was a rain-suspended game at the Vermont Mountaineers on Wednesday. The team continued a suspended game in the second inning with Pittsfield ahead 1-0. The teams played 3 1/2 innings, with no scoring, when the game was again suspended.
The American Defenders were also scheduled to play a doubleheader today against the Danbury Westerners at Clapp Park at 1 p.m. because Wahconah Park was submerged.With the season over, the players and coaches will return home to their hometowns and get set for college starting up again.
With the completion of one summer season, another one is just 11 months away.
The Pittsfield American Defenders would like to thank everyone who helped this season including the many sponsors and fans.
"The American Defenders appreciate all of your hard word and dedication to our team and organization," said Tosches. "We couldn't have done it without you and your support."
Radomski is in his second season with the Pittsfield franchise as the director of broadcasting and media relations and its play-by-play radio announcer. He is entering his senior year studying broadcast journalism at Quinnipiac University.
