Baseball brawl erupts in hockey country

A Fargo-Moorhead minor league baseball manager and a Winnipeg coach have been fined for their toe-to-toe fisticuffs that was ignited by a close pitch.

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: August 19, 2009 - 12:56 PM

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A Fargo-Moorhead minor league baseball manager and a Winnipeg coach have been fined for their toe-to-toe fisticuffs that was ignited by a close pitch.

The Northern League has fined Fargo-Moorhead manager Doug Simunic and Winnipeg hitting coach Tom Vaeth "for inappropriate behavior" during Monday night's game in Winnipeg before more than 5,600 fans at Canwest Park. The league did not reveal the size of the fines. There were no suspensions.

Goldeyes pitcher Ace Walker threw his first pitch to RedHawks hitter Nic Jackson behind him Monday night in the fourth inning. The home plate umpire then issued warnings to both benches about close pitches.

Simunic came out and confronted Vaeth between the mound and third base. Simunic slapped Vaeth on the left side of his face with an open left hand and followed with four swings at Vaeth with a closed fist. From there, the two locked in a uniform-clutching tussle.

A YouTube clip of the brawl in Canada includes the announcer exclaiming, "Oh, it's the old hockey fight!"

That emptied both benches onto the field. The whole incident lasted barely a minute.

Earlier in the game, RedHawks pitcher Garry Bakker threw a pitch over the head of Winnipeg batter Kevin West in the second inning and hit West in the helmet in the next inning.

Fargo-Moorhead won the game, 13-4.

With Simunic was back in his role Tuesday night as manager, the RedHawks swept the Goldeneyes. The series in Winnipeg wraps up with a day game today.

--Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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