Kouvolan Pallonlyöjat v Sotkamon Jymy - round 4

Sotkamo keep their season alive with a tight win over KPL
Photograph from Sotkamo Facebook (c) Sotkamon Jymy 2019
Semi finals review

Kouvolan Pallonlyöjät (3) 2 v 2 Sotkamon Jymy (2)
1-2s (1-4, 6-2, 0-1)
Prediction: In our preview we suggested that the series would be tight, but Sotkamo would win 3-1. With the series level again its now down to the final game of the series to be the decider. Two of the games were decided by a single run over 2 jaksos and the other two games both went to a supervuoro; this series is tight and it really depends who can get the better of the other in their final game that will triumph.
Summary: With the series on the line Sotkamo came out strong to build a win in the first jakso and set up for a second jakso lead of 2, before KPL blitzed the visitors and scored 6 times to tie the game at 1 jakso each.

Sotkamo struck first in the bottom of the 1st inning with 2 runs from Antti Korhonen, before Lauri Rönkkö made it 0-3 bringing Antti Korhonen home. KPLks offence was severely hampered and could not break through Sotkamo’s defence until the 4th inning, after Antti Korhonen scored his 3rd run of the jakso in the top of the final inning. KPL’s Janne Kivipelto gave the home side a glimmer of hope when his hit saw Santeri Löppönen cross home base. Sadly KPL could not build on this and the jakso was over 1-4 to Sotkamo.

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The second jakso saw Sotkamo jump to an early lead with Jere Vikström and Antti Korhonen bringing Niilo Piiponniemi and Niko Korhonen home. KPL couldn’t find a way back into the game until the 3rd inning, when they scored 6 runs that started when Tommi Mäentausta reached home from a wild throw. Matti Latvala bagged 2 runs to take KPL ahead in the jakso before Iiro Nokkala brought him home for a 4-2 lead. The inning was capped off by Tommi Mäentausta’s 2 run kunniajuoksu to give KPL a 6-2 lead which was all too much for a shell shocked Sotkamo to overcome in the 4th inning.

With the game going to a supervuoro for the second consecutive time in the series nerves were jangling - KPL were on the brink of taking the series. KPL took to the plate first, but were unable to score, setting up a simple 1 run target for Sotkamo to keep their season alive. Sotkamo worked the supervuoro well, having been in this position more times than any team in Superpesis this season. Niilo Piiponniemi quickly worked his way to 3rd base to set up legend Roope Korhonen to bring him home. Roope‘s hit saw Niilo cross home plate for win and the visitors erupted. Sotkamo have levelled the series and hope to carry the momentum into game 5 back at home. KPL will need to do some soul searching and think of how they can ignite their offence like they did in the 3rd inning of the second jakso. 


With the series tied, its a winner takes all game on 5th September, with both teams looking desperately towards reaching the final. 

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