Superpesis final review - round 4

Congratulations to Joensuun Maila - 2019 champions
Photograph from Joensuu Facebook (c) Joensuun Maila 2019
Superpesis final review - round 4

Joensuun Maila (4) 3 - 1 Sotkamon Jymy (2)
2-1s (0-2, 7-4, 3-1)
Prediction: In our preview we suggested that the series would be tight, with Sotkamo winning 3-2. Joensuu won the series in the end, but it was not as tight as we predicted. Each game however was anyone’s to take and all bar one was won on the narrowest of margins. In the end, the force of Joensuu’s momentum and consistency won out in the end.
Joensuu’s defence was impeccable
Photograph from Joensuu Facebook (c) Joensuun Maila 2019
Summary: The series headed back to Joensuu after a dramatic end to game 3 which saw Sotkamo fight back and keep the series alive. With tensions high the first jakso was nerve wracking and both sides struggled to take an advantage. The stadium was a sellout and the flecks of purple and orange showed that a good number of Sotkamo fans had made the trek in the hope that their team would even the series. With so much at stake, both sides defence was outstanding in the first jakso and Sotkamo in particular struggled to get runners on base. A breakthrough came when Sotkamo built a series of at bats to bring Joni Rytkönen home from 3rd base thanks to Roope Korhonen’s hit to the midfield. After Lauri Rönkkö failed to capitalise with a runner on 3rd, Topi Korhonen’s unexpected hit saw Niko Korhonen scramble home to give his team an 0-2 lead. Despite their efforts, Joensuu were out played on the field and could not break their scoreless streak, leaving Sotkamo as victors for the first jakso 0-2.

Sotkamo continued their new-found pace in the second jakso and immediately put 2 runs on the board thanks to Niko Korhonen and Jere Vikström. Joensuu struck back in the bottom of the 1st inning with runs from Juha Puhtimäki, Aleksi Rautiainen and Juha Niemi. Things went from bad to worse for Sotkamo, who reverted to form and failed to win 2 successive jakso. Juha Puhtimäki and Aleksi Rautiainen put runs 4 and 5 on the board before a wild throw to 2nd base led Konsta Kettunen home for run 6. In the top of the 3rd inning Sotkamo mounted a comeback, but this fell short, with Roope Korhonen and Lauri Rönkkö both bringing in a run to leave Sotkamo still 2 runs adrift. Joensuu added a 7th run in the bottom of the 3rd inning off the bat of Mikko Kemppainen to set Sotkamo a target to rescue the game and avoid a supervuoro, Sotkamo however were just not able to get things going and Joensuu won the jakso 7-4.

Joensuu opened the batting in the supervuoro, but struggled to make any inroads. With 2 outs, Sotkamo were looking like they were in the driving seat; however Aleksi Rautiainen struck a line drive past 2nd baseman and out of the field of play for a 3 run kunniajuoksu reminiscent of Roope Korhonen’s game winning blast in game 3 last week. Juha Niemi was unable to bring Aleksi Rautiainen home and instead accounted for the final out. Joensuu saw off Sotkamo’s top order with vicious efficiency, leaving the Markus Tuikka and the rest of the lineup to try and salvage the game. Sotkamo managed to rally as Joensuu’s nerves started to get the better of their otherwise flawless fielding, allowing Roope Korhonen to bring Markus Tuikka home to leave the score 3-1. Alas for the visitors, Lauri Rönkkö could not bring Topi Korhonen home safely and the game was over. the home crowd went wild and the team celebrated their second consecutive championship.

The champions
Photograph from Joensuu Facebook (c) Joensuun Maila 2019
Aleksi Rautiainen was a standout for Joensuu, as he blasted the winning runs home in the supervuoro going 9/12 overall with 4 runs batted in. Joensuu’s other star was the regularly mentioned Juha Puhtimäki, who is rapidly becoming one of the game’s greats. Puhtimäki was a fairly average 6/9 for the day, but his at bats had real impact on the game, bringing home 2 runs in the process. Sotkamo’s Roope Korhonen made use of 3rd base situations when they became available, going 3/4 at bringing runners home from 3rd base; however Sotkamo’s biggest problem was getting runners on base at all. 

Congratulations to Joensuu who retain their title as champions. From everybody here at Superpesis Roundup we want to congratulate Joensuun Maila for an exceptional post season where they defeated the league leaders (Vimpelin Veto) and danger team Sotkamon Jymy. Joensuu are truly building a legacy for themselves and the players are stamping their names in the history books. Commiserations to Sotkamon Jymy, who have fought long and hard throughout the season to make it to the final and give Joensuu a run for their money. This series was a fantastic series to follow and had plenty of ups and downs for both teams. Overall the better team (and certainly more consistent team) won. 

Scorecard from Pesis Live website https://pesislive.fi/#gamePage?id=gr28W8

 Joensuun Maila

pj:Juhani Lehtimäki/ Antti Väistö
3-tilanteet:18, harhat:1, vapaat:0
#PelaajaUpLyTuKL1%2%3%K%KL %P 
1Konsta Piironen3K5/102/62/21/250%
2Tuomas Jussila2P13/82/41/30/138%
3Juha PuhtimäkiL216/90/12/22/42/267%II
4Henri Litmanen3P3/70/21/12/443%
5Konsta Kettunen2V23/83/60/238%
6Mikko KemppainenS115/71/23/41/171%
7Lauri Kivinen2K26/70/15/51/186%
8Simo Rahunen3V3/62/31/10/250%
9Iiro Kuosa1V2/32/367%
10Juha Niemi12/81/21/625%
11Aleksi Rautiainen1+419/124/55/775%I
12Samuel Tirkkonen21/51/40/120%
1+81048/9011/2917/2111/239/1753%

 Sotkamon Jymy

pj:Jani Komulainen/ Saku Komulainen
3-tilanteet:16, harhat:0, vapaat:0
#PelaajaUpLyTuKL1%2%3%K%KL %P 
1Niilo Piiponniemi2K23/93/80/133%
2Joni Rytkönen3V24/72/42/357%
3Niko Korhonen3P126/101/32/42/21/160%I
4Antti KorhonenS3/71/30/12/20/143%
5Markus Tuikka1V14/53/41/180%
6Topi Korhonen2P14/61/22/31/167%
7Antti Kiiskinen2V4/91/43/40/144%
8Jussi Korhonen3K3/53/30/10/160%
9Ville VäliahoL3/53/30/260%II
10Roope Korhonen35/80/11/21/13/462%
11Lauri Rönkkö11/40/11/325%
12Jere Vikström12/81/60/11/125%
7742/8316/3810/189/147/1351%

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