Around the League 10th and 11th July 2019
Around the league
10th and 11th July 2019
Seinäjoen JymyJussit v Alajärven Ankkurit 10th July 2019
2-1s (7-2, 1-4, 1-0)
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| Photograph taken from JymyJussit facebook (c) Seinäjoen JymyJussit 2019 |
This was the first game back for both teams after the East-West break. For Alajärvi, they desperately needed some points to try and lift them from bottom of the table and join the pack above them. JyJu were hoping to put some distance between themselves and Raahe in 7th in the table. Coming into the game JyJu were in fine form, having won 4 out of the last 5, losing only to the seemingly unstoppable Vimpeli in a tight game (2-0 (1-0, 5-4)). JyJu opened the scoring 1-0, but the lead changed hands several times in the first jakso before JyJu scored 6 runs in the 4th inning with Toni Marjamäki and Mikko Haukkala scoring kunniajuoksu (home runs). With JyJu winning the first jakso 7-2, Alajärvi responded early in the second jakso with 2 runs. JyJu stumbled offensively and only scored once in the second jakso, while runs from Antti Pekkinen and Tuomas Lönnmark meant that Alajärvi won the second jakso 1-4. In the supervuoro Alajärvi failed to bring home Severi Piispanen, whereas JyJu’s Henri Puputti won the game with his hit bringing Juuso Myllyniemi. A valuable point for Alajärvi meant the visitors had something positive to take away from the game, whereas JyJu will be disappointed that their offence struggled in the second jakso.
Kiteen Pallo -90 v Joensuun Maila 11th July 2019
0-2 (1-3, 0-2)
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Kitee had won their last game against IPV to leapfrog them into the top 8, which had put an end to a 5 game losing streak. Kitee hadn’t beaten JoMa since 15th June 2018, losing the last 4. JoMa had won their last 4 games, after losing to Sotkamon Jymy and were sitting comfortably 5th in the table. The first jakso was tight, and the first run came in the second inning where Simo Rahunen reached first and later second off 2 walks before running home from third to score off Iiro Kuosa’s line drive to deep centre field. In response Kitee’s leadoff man Jesse Eskelinen advanced through the bases swiftly and was brought home by Sami Mikkolanaho as his line drive cleared a leaping shortstop. Valentin Ikonen and Ville Liukku were both out Kitee then had the bases loaded and looked as though they could build on the inning so far as Samu-Kalle Varonen was thrown out at home to end the inning. JoMa took the lead in the 3rd inning with Juha Puhtimäki blasting the ball deep into centre field which found its way beyond the back line to bring home Lauri Kivinen as Juha Puhtimäki scored a home run (kunniajuoksu). This was the game changer and Kitee were unable to come back, handing JoMa the jakso 1-3. In the second jakso JoMa scored in the 1st inning with Juha Puhtimäki and Aleksi Rautiainen bring home Samuel Tikkonen and Tuomas Jussila respectively. Kitee were scoreless in the second jakso and only have 5 chances to bring runners from 3rd base throughout. Kitee will be disappointed to not come away with points, having kept the score so tight, but this was a reflection as to why JoMa are comfortably 5th in the table. The loss leaves Kitee in 8th place level on points with Kempeleen Kiri, who have a game in hand.
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| KPL and IPV lineup before the game. Photograph from IPV facebook (c) Imatran Pallo-Veikot 2019 |
0-2 (0-2, 0-2)
`IPV and KPL both looked strong coming into this game, KPL having recovered from their blip before the break where they lost 2 games on the trot and IPV looking to steady the ship and maintain course for a playoff spot. The game was fairly pedestrian and there were not a lot of chances by either side to score, but KPL had the edge with 2 runs off Toni Lakshmi in the 2nd and 3rd innings in the first jakso and 2 runs from Matti Latvala in the 3rd and 4th innings in the second jakso. IPV were scoreless during the game and only attempted to bring runners from third base on 4 occasions throughout the game. The win for KPL puts a little more distance between them and Sotkamo after their result against Siilinjärvi. IPV go away pondering where to go next - whilst they have conceded significantly in the first half of the season, their offence has been average. With IPV failing to score any runs at home they will have to reboot their offence ahead of their next match against Alajärven Ankkurit to avoid further embarrassment.
Kempeleen Kiri v Hyvinkään Tahko 11th July 2019
1-2s (11-7, 3-4, 3-4)
Kempele took a point away from their visit to Sotkamo in their last match and looked to build on this and keep their playoff dreams firmly in sight. For Tahko this was their first game after the break, but they needed to take points away if they wanted cement their shit at the playoffs, having had under-average weeks in the lead up to the break. Juho Korhonen scored 5 of Tahko’s runs in the first jakso but heroics from Matti Korhonen as he scored 8 runs in the first jakso saw Kempele come back from 1-7 to win the jakso 11-7. In the second jakso Kempele lead going into the 4th inning 3-1 and looked to seal the victory. Tahko kept their nerve and scored 3 runs (2 thanks to Juha Korhonen) to win the jakso and force the supervuoro. At this time it seemed Tahko had come alive and they set Kempele a 4 run target to chase. Kempele fought bravely and managed to reduce the deficit to 1 run but fell short of the target, leaving Tahko the victors. Kempele outscored Tahko overall 17-15 and were only defeated by the narrow margins of 1 run in the second jakso and 1 run in the supervuoro. Kempele will be frustrated that they couldn’t pull off a surprise win here, but their performance was encouraging as it seems their offence is in the mend, scoring 17 runs compared to their average in the first half of the season of 6.5 runs per game. Tahko claw back the win, but will feel that Kempele were a tough opponent on the day and kept them honest.
Sotkamon Jymy v Siilinjärven Pesis 11th July 2019
0-2 (4-5, 1-4)
Sotkamon Jymy came into the game hoping to dominate and take 3 points from a team tipped for relegation this year. Siilinjärvi were hoping to bounce back after their loss to KPL. Whilst SoJy scored first thanks to a wild throw, nobody registered another run until the 3rd inning where Lauri Rönkkö brought Niko Korhonen home safely. Sotkamo’s lead was not to last and Toni Toivanen levelled the score in the 3rd with 2 runs. Siilinjärvi then took the lead thanks to Roope Räisänen. The rest of the jakso was back and forth and Siilinjärvi scored twice in the 4th inning to win the jakso 4-5. In the second jakso scored 2 runs in both the 1st and 2nd innings to leave Sotkamo a mighty task if they were to force the supervuoro. Sotkamo staged a comeback, but in reality the only run from the jakso was from Roope Korhonen who brought Matias Litmanen home in the 2nd inning. Sotkamo failed to score for the remainder of the game and it left Siilinjärvi jubilant at the final out. Siilinjärvi will be ecstatic over a 3 point win against such heavy favourites and will give them a huge boost to try and stave off relegation. Sotkamo will be concerned after such an a shocking loss, but as the table stands, they are all but guaranteed a spot in the top 8 already.
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| Photograph from SiiPe website (c) Siilinjärven Pesis 2019 |
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