Around the league 9th to 11th August 2019

Around the league

Friday 9th August 2019

Joensuun Maila v Kiteen Pallo -90

1-2s (6-3, 4-7, 0-1)

Photograph from Joensuu Facebook (c) Jeonsuun Maila 2019

Joensuu are on a mission to build momentum before the post season and possibly pip KPL into 3rd in the table. Kitee however have much higher stakes and are locked in a battle for the last playoff spot with IPV (and to a lesser extent Kankaanpää). Joensuu have been unstoppable of late having won all their games since June. Kitee have also been on a good run, having won 4 of their last 5, with their only loss having been at the expense of Joensuu.

The win leaves Kitee in a very strong position for the playoff battle and will give them confidence, having beaten such a strong team. JoMa were left scratching their heads, having won the first jakso, only to lose in a supervuoro.

Other results

Seinäjoen JymyJussit v Sotkamon Jymy

1-2s (4-2, 4-8, 2-3)

Saturday 10th August 2019

Alajärven Ankkurit v Koskenkorvan Urheilijat

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

Alajärvi came into the game with nothing left to play for but pride, as they stay anchored to the bottom of the table. For Koskenkorva, there is a chance that they can still avoid the relegation battle, but it would have to start with a 3 point win over Alajärvi. Alajärvi had not won a game in their last 7 games, their last win having been against Koskenkorva on 18th July. Koskenkorva on the other hand had won 1 game in their last 5, taking 5 points out of a possible 15. 

Koskenkorva scored first when Petrus Puputti reached home off a wild throw in the 1st inning. The visitors added a second in the 2nd inning when Juho Toivola brought Otto Kauppinen home to score. With the game still tight, Alajärvi pulled a run back in the 4th inning with Antti Pukkinen bringing Miikka Keski-Petäjä home to score. Alajärvi were unable to get anything else going and the jakso ended 1-2 to Koskenkorva. The second jakso was equally quiet for Alajärvi, who’s closest chances to scoring came when Mikael Penninkangas and Ville Posti were haava (caught attempting to advance) trying for home in the 2nd inning. The second jakso was all Koskenkorva who opened the scoring in the 2nd inning with Ville-Veikko Olli bringing Juuso Vuorenmäki home. The 3rd inning saw runs 2 and 3 with Patrik Wahlsten and a wild throw allowing Petrus Puputti and Otto Kauppinen to score. The final runs came with Ville-Veikko Olli in the 3rd and 4th innings, bringing Juho Toivola home before hitting a solo kunniajuoksu to leave the visitors 0-5 up.

The win gives Koskenkorva hope to try and avoid relegation, but their journey to safety is far from over and far from easy. Alajärvi were overwhelmed in this game and look like a team who are now resigned to relegation, whilst they seemed to be on the bounce a few weeks back, they have lost their last 8 games now and face perennial championship challengers Sotkamo in their final game.

Sunday 11th August 2019 

Kankaanpään Maila v Kiteen Pallo -90

2-1s (8-2, 4-6, 2-0)

Photograph from Kankaanpää Facebook (c) Kankaanpään Maila 2019

With time running out for Kankaanpää to make a run for the playoffs, this game was “make or break”, as Kitee are directly ahead of them in the table, challenging for the final spot. The stakes were high in fact for both teams, as IPV remain in the hunt for 8th place and every single point is needed. Kitee came to this game off the back of a big win against Joensuu and were looking to cement their place into the top 8. Kankaanpää however have had a mixed run of late, dropping points to teams like Alajärvi (whilst still winning), but beating teams like Sotkamo. 

Kitee opened the scoring in the first jakso with a. Wild throw allowing Topi Hurskainen to score; however the jakso turned into a back and fore affair until the 3rd inning when Joona Anttila blasted a bases loaded kunniajuoksu to leave KaMa 7-2 up. The cherry on top came when Joona made it home from 3rd base with Toni Pomell’s hit. In the second jakso Kitee started with purpose and jumped to a 0-5 lead in the 1st inning with 2 kunniajuoksu from Veli-Matti Sigvart (3 runs) and Jani Ahonen (2 runs). Despite runs from Joona Anttila and Petteri Kortelainen (2), Kankaanpää were never able to come back from the early deficit.

Photograph from Kankaanpää Facebook (c) Kankaanpään Maila 2019

The game then fell to be decided by a supervuoro, with Kitee scoring 1 run thanks to Hannes Pekkinen’s hit bringing Topi Hurskainen home. It was not to be however as KaMa scored twice to win the game, with the last run coming from Joona Lehtinen. Overall both teams showed great strength and purpose in the game and it was intense to watch. Both teams had their degree of success but in the end KaMa won and the statistics showed, as they had scored 13 runs from 27 3rd base opportunities, compared to Kitee’s 8 from 21. Joona Anttila was the hero for the home team, scoring 6 runs and having an 83% success rate at moving the point runner. 

The win is significant here for Kankaanpää, Kitee and IPV, who all head into the final game of the season on 13th August in the running for the playoffs. Whilst Kankaanpää are outsiders, their victory over Sotkamo recently has shown that they can put pressure on the big teams and get results when needed. Kitee will feel relieved to have taken a point after such a one-sided first jakso and will look to their final game, with one eye on IPV’s game against KPL.

Other results

Vimpelin Veto v Siilinjärven Pesis

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

Pattijoen Urheilijat, Raahe v Kempeleen Kiri

2-0 (6-0 13-5)

Kouvolan Pallonlyöjät v Joensuun Maila

0-2 (2-4, 3-7)

Imatran Pallo-Veikot v Hyvinkään Tahko

2-1s (1-7, 3-1, 2-0)