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By BRUCE HALLIHAN
hallihan.bruce@dailygleaner.com

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The New Brunswick Senior Baseball League executive has suspended two Fredericton Peterbilt DQ Royals and one Summerside Hemphill GM Chevys player for their role in Saturday's game in Summerside being called off.

League president Brian Richard, first vice-president Art Gremley and second vice-president Bev Bawn met Monday night to decide on proper punishment.

The game was halted in the top of the fourth inning at the umpires' discretion.

"The umpires' report said they were at risk, so for the safety of the players and the umpires, they called the game," Richard said.

The Chevys were leading Game 2 of the doubleheader 1-0 after the Royals took the opener 8-0.

Jeremy Turgeon and Andrew McNeill were ejected for the Royals while Justin Grady was tossed for the Chevys.

"The umpires felt the game was out of control," Chevys coach Craig Noonan said. "That's their decision but I didn't feel it was as explosive a situation as maybe it was made out to be."

Summerside starter Jeremy Martin was upset because one of the Royals had yelled 'balk' during a pitch to home plate in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the inning, Fredericton starter Jake Waugh, who had struggled with his control, let a fastball get away inside and just missed Nial Hughes, who scrambled to avoid being hit by the pitch.

After Martin hit Turgeon with the first pitch of the fourth inning, tempers flared and umpires had their hands full to contain both clubs.

Both teams were fined $50 for failing to control their players. Turgeon received a three-game suspension: one for being tossed from the game, one for refusing to leave the field and a third game for his second ejection in two years.

Turgeon was suspended two games for fighting during Game 4 of the league final last September against the Moncton Mets.

McNeill was given two games: one for being ejected and another for threatening the umpire. Grady also received a two-game suspension: one for being tossed and another for refusing to leave the field.

"I'm not very pleased with the suspensions, obviously," Royals skipper Steve Hicks said. "My main concern is their pitcher (Martin) who was responsible for starting it never even got suspended or kicked out of the game. Our bench got a little upset and I don't blame them.

"It's one thing to throw at a guy," Hicks said, "but when you throw at a guy's head that's a different story."

"That's his take on it," Noonan said. "I don't know if it was an intentional thing or it was taken a little out of context, but I would disagree (with Hicks)."

McNeill, a rookie, only has 16 plate appearances and is 0-for-12 on the season. He's also pitched three and a third innings. Turgeon has the team's third highest batting average at .359 (14-for-39) but is 17 plate appearances shy of qualifying for a batting title.

Grady has just six plate appearances and four innings pitched for Summerside.

Hicks said the suspension to McNeill "was definitely avoidable."

The home plate umpire "pointed to our bench and said, 'Yer out of here,' so I went to find out what was going on," Hicks said. "He said, 'Well, someone on your bench is kicked out.' I said 'Who?' He said 'I don't know. Why don't you pick?' I said 'I'm not picking one of my guys to get kicked out' and that's when he randomly picked Andrew."

So McNeill didn't really deserve to get ejected, Hicks said, "but once he was, he ran out to the ump and said a few things."

Hicks feels the executive is trying to send a message to Turgeon for being suspended last season.

"But Jeremy had a ball thrown at his head," Hicks said. "He went to first base and he said a few things. I understand him getting kicked out for that, but my biggest concern, again, is the fact the pitcher had nothing handed his way. He was jawing at our bench when he left after the third, basically saying 'You'll get yours' and the first pitch he throws is at Jeremy's head.

"The umpire said "It was an accident' and I said, "Well, you already warned him, so you've got to kick him out,' " Hicks said.

Richard said no stats have been kept for the game, which will either be continued or replayed in its entirety only if it has a bearing on the final standings.

"We'll make a decision if and when," Richard said, "but I don't think it's going to have to be played period."

The Royals have a 16-4 record and a four-and-a-half game lead on the 14-11 Saint John Alpines heading into tonight's game against the Chatham O'Donaghues Ironmen, starting at 7:30 on Baseball Hill.

The Chevys are 3-18 and can't get out of the basement.

Fredericton hosts Summerside for three games: an Aug. 2 doubleheader and the regular season finale the following day.

Richard said both teams better be on their best behaviour.

"I'm going to send a little note to both teams informing them as to what we expect," he said.

"We'll be there, for sure," Noonan said. "It's all water under the bridge. Even after it happened, both teams settled right down. Once the umpires left the field, everything was cool as a cucumber.

"We're not expecting any fireworks when we go over there," Noonan said.

"Hopefully nothing will happen," Hicks said. "Like I told Brian, 'You're sending the wrong message when the pitcher who starts this doesn't get anything for it.' But I'll certainly talk to my players and let them know this is said and done."

In addition to tonight's game, the Royals host Saint John at 7:30 Friday night and play at Moncton on Sunday.