Former Delaware State standout pitcher J.R. McAllister has signed with the American Defenders of New Hampshire; the defending champions of the Can-Am (Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball) League.

McAllister pitched for two seasons at DSU, appearing in 34 games (starting 27) with a 9-10 record and a 6.62 ERA. The right-handed pitcher tallied 170 career strikeouts in 167 and one-third innings pitched to rank No. 4 all-time at Delaware State in Ks.

A Second Team All-MEAC selection in 2007, McAllister finished his junior campaign with a 6-4 record and a team-best 5.24 ERA in 18 appearances. Making 14 starts, the Pennsville, N.J., native fanned 95 batters in 87 and two-thirds inning of action, while holding the opposition to a .281 batting average. For the year, McAllister’s totals in strikeouts (No. 2) and victories (No.4) ranked in the top five in the MEAC.

The Can-Am League has been around off and on since 1936, but after 1951, the league shut down until 2005.  The league features eight teams from Canada as well as the northeast of the U.S.

The American Defenders have won 12 league championships since 1990 including four in a row.  The team prides itself on honoring the men and women in the United States Armed Forces.  The New Hampshire club plays at historic Holman Stadium in the town of Nashua.  The stadium has been around since 1946 but was recently renovated in 1998.

McAllister will report to Nashua on May 16 to help his new team prepare for its regular season opener on May 28 against Worcester.