NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) New Britain has replaced its former Double-A baseball team with an independent minor league club.

City and team officials announced Thursday that the New Britain Bees will begin play in the Atlantic League next April.

The team takes the place of the Camden (New Jersey) Riversharks, which went out of business last month after 15 years in the league.

The Bees are owned by Atlantic League founder Frank Boulton, who also owns the Long Island Ducks.

The city and Boulton have agreed to a 15-year-lease of New Britain Stadium, with an annual rent of $150,000.

New Britain was left without a team when the Double-A Rock Cats moved to Hartford. That club will open play in a new stadium next spring as the Hartford Yard Goats.