Suspensions handed down in brawl

Aug 1, 2008 - 10:33 PM PEORIA, Illinois (Ticker) -- Fifteen players and two managers from the Class A Peoria Chiefs and Dayton Dragons were suspended on Friday for their involvement in a wild 10-minute brawl between the teams on July 24.

The suspensions were announced by Midwest League president George Spelius, who took more than a week to investigate the matter.

Peoria and Dayton are affiliated with the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, respectively.

Former Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo was handed a 60-day suspension that extends into next season and fined $1,000. He was charged with felonious assault after throwing a ball toward the Dayton dugout during the melee. The ball missed the dugout and struck a fan, who had to be treated at a hospital.

Following the incident, the Cubs demoted Castillo to their rookie league team in Mesa, Arizona.

Peoria interim manager Carmelo Martinez, the Cubs' Latin American field coordinator, was suspended 20 days and fined $1,500. Martinez was filling in for Chiefs manager Ryne Sandberg, who was in Cooperstown, New York for the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Dayton manager Donnie Scott was suspended for three days. Martinez pushed Scott during an argument between the two after three players were hit by pitches in the first inning of the game.

Six Peoria players were suspended three games: outfielders Brandon Guyer and Cliff Andersen, infielder Jovan Rosa, pitchers Steve Vento and Audy Santana and catcher Mario Mercedes.

The eight Dragons suspended for three games each are catcher Devin Mesoraco, outfielders Justin Reed and Denis Phipps, infielder Kevyn Feiner and pitchers Jeff Jeffords, Jeremy Horst, Luis Montano and Henry Arias.

Eight Dayton players, who were not identified, also were suspended three games.