Around the league 16th and 17th July 2019

Around the league

16th and 17th July 2019

Hyvinkään Tahko v Vimpelin Veto 16th July 2019

0-2 (1-4, 3-6)

Photograph from Tahko Facebook (c) Hyvinkään Tahko 2019

Vimpeli looked to bounce back from their defeat at home to Sotkamo at the weekend and build on their lead at the top of the table. Vimpeli had been almost flawless this season and had not lost two games in a row so far. For Tahko their record was less impressive; although they had won 3 of their last 5 games and taken a point from each of their two losses. Vimpeli had won all bar 1 of their encounters with Tahko in the last 5 years. Tahko opened the scoring in the 2nd inning thanks to Juha Korhonen, but their lead was short lived as Vimpeli scored 4 runs in the bottom of the second. From there on out Vimpeli remaining in control and Tahko were unable to score. Vimpeli won the first jakso 1-4. Vimpeli started the second jakso with Olli Heikkala scoring off Elmeri Anttila’s hit. Janne Mäkelä made it 0-3 for the visitors bringing home Ville Takala nad Janne Heimonen in the 3rd. Juha Korhonen pulled 2nback for Tahko in the 3rd, but Vimpeli made it 2-6 in the 4th to give Tahko a mountain to climb. Despite juha Korhonen bringing Patrik Vartama home to score, Tahko could not mount a comeback and the second jakso was won by Vimpeli 3-6. Vimpeli were dominant in this game and this win will help them get back on track to retain top spot; more importantly, the 3 points means that they are the first team to guarantee a playoff spot. For Tahko it was a disappointment, but not a surprise; Tahko are still relatively comfortable in the table at 5th, with 8 points over 6th place Seinäjoki.

Alajärven Ankkurit v Imatran Pallo-Veikot 16th July 2019

2-1s (0-5, 1-0, 1-0)

Alajärvi are in desperate need of wins to pull themselves from the bottom of the table, but it is not clear where those wins will come from if their current form continues. IPV are also in poor shape, having drifted away from a playoff spot recently, having won only once since the East-West break. IPV got straight to work, despite their being rain in the air, scoring in the first inning as Alajärvi first baseman mis-fielded Konsta Kurikka’s hit to bring Juuso Lattu home. Konsta Kurikka scored 2 more runs with a line drive to right field, but was outpaced by the throw to 3rd base for an out that prevented a home run (kunniajuoksu). Jere Dahlström made it 4 in the 3rd inning and Konsta Hyötyläinen topped off IPV’s score to 0-5 by bringing Teemu Nurmio home as his short bouncing hit just stayed fair of the right foul line. Alajärvi were unable to score and were shut out 0-5 in the first jakso. The second jakso was tight and neither side seemed to have the edge, until Martti Viltasalo’s line drive was narrowly missed by IPV’s diving shortstop and allowed Severi Piispanen to run home and score. The run proved decisive for the jakso as neither side could find a way to score. With 1 jakso won each the teams lined up for a supervuoro. IPV’s nerves must have been jangled as they were looking for a final out to end Alajärvi’s 

supervuoro, as their shortstop in left field mis-fielded a fairly low speed hit from Martti Viltasalo. The result of the error was to cost IPV the game as Ville Posti ran home to score and IPV were scoreless in their half of the inning. Alajärvi were lucky to hold up for the win after being blanked in the first jakso. The win gives Alajärvi a chance to close in on 13th in the table, but far from being out of danger. IPV outscored Alajärvi, but when it counted failed to turn runs into a win. IPV are 10th with 1pt lead over 11th and 12th.

Sotkamon Jymy v Kempeleen Kiri 17th July 2019

2-0 (4-1, 4-0)

Sotkamo came into this game rejuvenated by their win over Vimpeli and hoping to put their 0-2 defeat to Siilinjärvi behind them. Sotkamo had won 3 out of their last 5 games but only taken 2 points from each of those wins. Kempele had not won since June and things are starting to look desperate as they sink towards the bottom of the league. As the rain came down at Sotkamo the crowd could barely distinguish between the thunder and the roar of the home team’s bats. With the weather making things difficult for both sides Sotkamo’s first run came from a walk in the 1st inning. Kempele drew level thanks to Aki Hanhela. The home side regained the lead as flashes of light crossed the sky and Lauri Rönkkö brought home Joni Rytkönen. Antti Kiiskinen made it 3-1 to finish the 2nd inning. Roope Korhonen made things worse for Kempele in the 3rd scoring Niilo Piiponniemi to make it 4-1. Kempele were sunk and could not chase down the total, leaving Sotkamo the winners of the first jakso 4-1. Whilst the rain eased off in the second jakso, Sotkamo did not and scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning to throw down a marker for Kempele. Lauri Rönkkö made it 4-0 as he attempted a kunniajuoksu (home run) in the 3rd and made it 100% for him moving the point runner for the day. Kempele had nothing in the tank and the 4th inning came and went without them scoring. Sotkamo will be ecstatic that they took a 3 point win for the first time since the East-West break and hope this will be the trend going forward. Kempele add this to their string of losses and wonder where their next points will come from. Kempele sit at 9th in the table only 1 point away from 11th place IPV.

Elsewhere in the league

Joensuun Maila v Kempelen Kiri 16th July 2019

2-0 (6-3, 8-2)