Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505240095
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Carolina League opponents Winston-Salem and Durham were set for Round 2 - make that Game 2 - of their series Tuesday night following a bench-clearing brawl that left one player hospitalized.
Ten players were ejected Monday on what was ``Strike Out Domestic Violence'' night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Warthogs pitcher Glen Cullop lost several teeth and was knocked unconscious. He was listed in stable condition Tuesday at Durham Regional Hospital.
League president John Hopkins said Tuesday it was still too early to discuss what action the league would take.
``I've only just received the report from the umpires,'' Hopkins said Tuesday. ``I'll be there tonight to talk to the teams. We'll just have to see what happens after that.
``I will say this - both managers are extremely concerned about the incident and I have confidence that they will use their influence to try to prevent a recurrence.''
Bulls left-hander Del Mathews was scheduled to go against Winston-Salem's Curt Lyons on Tuesday night.
Monday's brawl began after Durham's John Knott was hit by a pitch from Jason Kummerfeldt and charged the mound with two out in the bottom of the third inning.
Kummerfeldt already had hit Danny Magee in the first inning and had given up back-to-back homers before hitting Knott on the left arm. In the top of third, Bulls pitcher Jamie Arnold had hit Aaron Boone of Winston-Salem.
``They had it coming,'' Knott said. ``I could tell that the guy intentionally threw at Danny Magee in the first inning.''
Kummerfeldt denied intentionally hitting the Bulls.
``I had no control and no command of my pitches,'' he said. ``I kept trying to go inside. I hate the fact that I hit three or four batters, or whatever it was.''
Hopkins said a similar incident prompted by batters being hit with pitches occurred last year in a game between Wilmington and Salem.
``There were fines and suspensions for those involved, as there probably will be in this case,'' he said. ``I just don't know who was involved and to what degree.''
Hopkins said the minimum penalty for a player who leaves his position and becomes involved in an on-field confrontation is a two-game suspension and $100 fine.
Monday's fight resulted in a 32-minute game delay.
Plate umpire Jeff Head ejected Winston-Salem's Mike Meggers, Paul Bako, Ricky Magdaleno and Kummerfeldt along with Durham's Manny Jiminez, Jason Green, Knott, Ken Warner, Scott Pagano and Andre King.
Winston-Salem won 10-8.
by CNB