Coach Suspended After Alleged Hazing Incident

BOSTON -- A Northbridge middle school baseball coach lost his job because of an anonymous complaint that he was allegedly hazing his players.

NewsCenter 5's Rhondella Richardson reported Thursday that some of the kids on the team are coming to Coach Bean Bennett's defense.

VIDEO: Baseball Coach Suspended

Parents said that they are upset about the firing and the fact that the school never sent home a letter. School officials told parents that the situation had been handled internally.

"Mr. Bennett helped me out through baseball ever since Little League," player Michael Hubert.

Players said that what the school called hazing was part of harmless fun for them. The player who goofed up during practice would be sent through a so-called "hot oven." Teammates would line up and open legs to form a tunnel. The "hot oven" nominee -- chosen by teammates -- would scamper through as fast as he could as players tried to slap his bottom.

"Whether or not it was hazing -- in my opinion I would say it was not because it was done in the open. Everyone agreed to it, and no one got hurt," parent Debbie Clasby said.

"He was always nice -- a fair coach. He always looked out for the kids," Hubert said.

When it rained, Bennett allowed the team to play inside for free at the local batting cage that he owns.

The middle school principal said that it was a personnel matter. The superintendent of schools said that the matter was resolved two weeks ago.

Bennett sent NewsCenter 5 a letter that he has written to parents. He said the ritual was not hazing, but something the players on the team wanted to do.

He said he stopped it as soon as he heard about the complaint.