The Roundup - 2nd to 8th March 2020

Iiro Kuosa extends his contract with JoMa for 2 more years
Photograph from Iiro Kuosa Twitter (c) Iiro Kuosa 2019

The big stories

Joensuu re-sign Iiro Kuosa for 2 more years

Iiro Kuosa is one of the most celebrated defensive players in the game and his hard work this Halli-SM tournament has been obvious. Joensuu had some very strong defensive games in the group stages and Kuosa’s abilities were fully on display. Sadly pesäpallo shares a common problem with baseball statistics- a lack of defensive stats that can analyse how a player impacts on a game. When you watch his highlight reel however, it all becomes clear!

Kuosa continues with JoMa, where he has played since 2017 and won 2 Superpesis championships. 

“Iiro is definitely one of the best outside players in the entire series and in his place the best in Finland. The negotiations were easy in themselves, as the player and the club both hoped for a two-year extension” 

Jonne Kemppainen, Managing Director of Joensuun Maila (translation via Google)

Joanne Kemppainen is appointed as Sales Director for Pesäpalloliito (Finnish Baseball Association)

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Kemppainen (34) has been the Managing Director of Joensuun Maila since autumn 2018 and started in his new role on 3rd March 2020. Kemppainen started his Superpesis career with Seinäjoen Maila-Jussit in 2005 before spending a few years in Ykköspesis with Kankaanpään Maila. His return to Superpesis was in 2010 with a move to Pattijoen Urheilijat where he established himself as a regular in the lineup. Kemppainen returned to KaMa in 2012 and became Executive Director as well as a regular player for the team. In 2014 Kemppainen moved to Joensuun Maila and became Sales Director as well as continuing to play. Kemppainen ended his playing career in 2018 as a reigning champion, with 263 games in Superpesis and a career success rating of 57% across the leagues. 

“I feel that this pest is a great step in my career. I have been able in recent years to work in a fantastic workplace that does not have the dreaded reforms. I strive to bring the same innovation and courage to the whole baseball movement. Baseball is a particularly tough thing in the provinces, and the sport has been on a good note in recent years. My goal is to make our national species more prominent in different media and discussion forums.”

Jonne Kemppainen (translation via Google)

“We are very pleased to have Jonne Kemppainen as a confirmation for our team. He has strong competencies in sports management, particularly in partnerships, sales and marketing. I believe that Jonne will help to boost the baseball movement to become even stronger all over Finland.”

Petri Pitkäranta, who started as the Managing Director of the Baseball Federation on 1.3.2020 (translation via Google)

Kemppainen's employment contract includes a transition period in which he acts as the Managing Director of Joensuu Mailan's background company and as Sales Director of the Baseball Association. Kemppainen will become full-time Sales Director by 1st October 2020.

“Jonne has been involved in building today's Joma in a significant role first as a player and then on the office side. I wish success to the future washed and I believe that the choice will be a joy for all of us breeding lovers in the future! At the same time, the change provides a great opportunity for a new person to take Joensuun Maila to the next level as a more significant player on the Finnish breeding map”

Joni Nousiainen, Chairman of Super-JoMa Oy (translation via Google)

Kempeleen Kiri and Vimpelin Veto will play in Lapland on 28th May 2020

Kempele and Vimpeli will play at Simon Tuulivoima-Areenalla on 28th May 2020 as a special treat for local fans and travelling fans to the arctic circle. The announcement comes a few weeks after Sotkamon Jymy and Pattijoen Urheilijat Raahe announced they will play at Rovaniemi, Lapland on 8th August 2020. 

Halli-SM update and standings

The group stages are over and the semi finals and final await this weekend. The semi finals are:

Vimpelin Veto v Joensuun Maila; and

Kouvolan Pallonlyöjat v Pattijoen Urheilijat Raahe

Standings: