Did a Punch Turn Gloucester’s Season Around?
by Burke Davis, Gloucester Daily Times 
August 13, 2017 – Gloucester – Did a locker room punch-out turn the Gloucester Fishermen’s season around? On July 30, Manuel Gonzalez decked Andrew Sepkiechler with a single right cross. Since then, going into tonight’s rubber game against the league best team, the Florida Featherheads, Gloucester has won nine of twelve, and sits a mere two games under .500.
Following the F’men loss to the Charleston Statesmen, Sepkiechler voiced his opinion, yet again, that he was being misused, that he should never have lost his job as closer. About three sentences into Seppy’s tirade, Gonzalez turned from his locker and decked the reliever.
“You’ve done nothing but bitch this year,” the veteran catcher roared, “and the big man has a 5.91 ERA! Who the hell needs a closer with a 5.91 ERA? You do your job today [Seppy faced three men in the 8th, retired none, and gave up the eventual game winning run] and we could still be playing.” The Gloucester ninth inning rally fell short, 4-3.
As the reliever sat stunned from the punch, several other teammates broke into applause. Gonzalez waited a moment to see if Seppy would respond. When the reliever stayed put, the catcher snorted and turned back to his locker.
Several players spoke off the record to back Gonzalez. The general feeling was that Sepkiechler’s season-long pout directly cost Gloucester some games, especially in the early going, and his backbiting has contributed to a troubled clubhouse. Gonzalez’ punch cleared the air.
Will the run lead to a storybook finish? It’s hard to see this club getting to the playoffs – too many injuries, too little depth. But Sepkiechler’s drain on the clubhouse seems over, his tenure with the F’men certainly complete come October. Gonzalez has been a disappointment with the bat this year – perhaps his most valuable moment may have been off the field.