A trick used by a grounds crew to dry out a soaked baseball field in St. Albert's may have cost local teams its use for the season.

"What usually takes a day, day and a half for Mother Nature to take care of, we did in half an hour," Gerry Peterson said after his crew spread diesel fuel on the field and ignited it last week.

After being told what had happened, officials in the Edmonton suburb dispatched a crew to dig up the field and test the dirt. When the test results showed the pitcher's mound had been contaminated with fuel, the field was shut down as an environmental risk.

"I wouldn't say it was an over-reaction," said city spokesman Chris Jardine. "I would say it was an appropriate reaction to ensure for public safety."

The quick-dry approach was nothing new to baseball coach Kurtis Millar. "I've definitely played in every province in Canada and seen the trick used," he told CBC News. And crews here say this is common practice across Alberta.

"If I thought for a second it was hurting a kid, I never would have done it," Peterson said.

Nevertheless, the field could be shut down for several weeks, which means the rest of the season has likely gone up in flames for the young players.

The local baseball association is on the hook for cleanup costs.

With files from the CBC's Michael Dick