Post season round 4 review

The stage was set for a must win home game for Alajärvi
Photograph from Alajärvi Facebook (c) Alajärven Ankkurit 2019
Postseason review: Round 4


Elimination series
Commiserations to Alajärvi as they are now relegated from Superpesis for 2020 following their defeat to Siilinjärvi. We here at Superpesis roundup wish Alajärvi well and hope to see them again soon in the top division.


Alajärven Ankkurit 1 v 3 Siilinjärven Pesis
1-2k (1-3, 5-4, 0-0, 4-5)
SiiPe win game 4 to send Alajärvi down to Ykköspesis
Photograph from Siilinjärvi Facebook (c) Siilinjärven Pesis 2019
Prediction: In the Elimination series preview post we pegged Siilinjärvi to win, 3 games to 1. After Alajärvi’s win in game 3, this result means that we correctly predicted the winner of the series and the number of wins.
Summary: What an effort from Alajärvi yet again in front of the home crowd; this blockbuster of a game showed how intense and exciting this series was. It is such a shame that the loser of this series was destined for Ykköspesis next season, as both sides gave their all. The visitors got off to a strong start as they were 0-3 up going into the 4th inning in the first jakso with Samu Vainikainen bringing Ville Pietinen home in both the 1st and 2nd innings. Markus Hallasuo’s consolation run in the 4th inning for Alajärvi was of little comfort for the home fans, as they saw their hopes of staying in Superpesis slipping away. After the break Alajärvi however came out revitalised and Tuomo Lönnmark scored a 3 run kunniajuoksu in the 1st inning to give the home side a good start to the second jakso. By the 2nd inning however, Alajärvi saw there lead disappear entirely as Siilinjärvi scored 4 runs to take the lead. Markus Hallasuo scored in the bottom of the 2nd inning and in the 3rd to regain the lead for Alajärvi and ultimately win the jakso. 

With spirits lifted Alajärvi went into the supervuoro hoping to steal a win and even the series; however it remained scoreless and the game went to a kotiutuskilpailu (scoring contest). After 5 batting pairs the score remained tied at 3-3 and an additional round of 3 batting pairs took to the field before Siilinjärvi were declared the winners 4-5. The end to the series was incredibly dramatic and was a real showcase for how exciting this sport can be. Siilinjärvi’s Samu Vainikainen had another standout performance, going 3/3 with runners on 3rd base and 8/10 overall at moving the point runner. For Alajärvi Manu Haukkala had a perfect performance as leadoff man, going 7/7 at reaching first base, but Tuomo Lönnmark’s 3 run kunniajuoksu was the moment of the game as it turned the game on its head in an instant, where Alajärvi went from series losers to looking like evening the series. In the end this game was one of margins and both sides stats showed it was a very even contest.


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