Around the league - 24th July 2020
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| Vimpeli edge past PattU in an extra inning win |
Vimpelin Veto v Pattijoen Urheilijat, Raahe
2-1s (2-3, 4-2, 1-0)
It’s been a less than spectacular start to the season for both Vimpeli and PattU, who have under-achieved in the table. Vimpeli are very much a work in progress, with a transition to new and younger players from the star-studded team that stood equal to Sotkamo. In particular Perttu Ruuska is taking up the role of Lukkari (pitcher) and having to learn on the job. Pattijoki have their own problems to deal with too; whilst their team has a core of seasoned and talented players in Sami Haapakoski, Topi Kosonen and Jari Törmänen, they struggled in their early games to dominate and win games convincingly. Now PattU have the difficulty of playing catch-up with the top teams in the league without key players. Jari Törmänen is out for the season with a toe injury, whilst Paavo Pelto (who has returned from injury) is not necessarily back to his best performance; however the only thing on everyone’s mind was the return of Sami Haapakoski - living legend and hero of Saarikenttä for most of his career.
In Vimpeli’s last 5 games leading into this one, they suffered 3 point losses to Sotkamo and KPL, as well as a shock defeat by Siilinjärvi. PattU are 1 of only 4 teams in the league not to have won both jakso in a game this season, the other teams being outside the top 8. In head to head games, it cannot be more one-sided, with Vimpeli having won the last 14 games! In fact you have to go back to 20th August 2015 to find the game that Pattijoki won.
Despite a close call at home plate in the first inning that went against Vimpeli, it was PattU who opened the scoring in the 2nd inning when an error from Juuso Keski-Koukkari’s line drive to shallow centre field allowed Timo Kallio to score. Topi Kosonen’s line drive to left field was too much for the diving Vimpeli shortstop and gave Severi Piispanen time to score to make it 0-2 to PattU, but things went from bad to worse for Vimpeli when a routine throw to home was missed by Lukkari Perttu Ruuska and gift Paavo Pelto a run. Facing a mountain to climb, Vimpeli came as close as you can get by scoring twice in the 4th inning. Perttu Ruuska’s hit to the midfield line seemed to roll and completely pass through the glove of Severi Piispanen to start Vimpeli’s rally. Matias Rita-aho’s well placed shot to right field took an awkward bounce in front of Paavo Pelto and gave Elmeri Anttila the fraction of a second he needed to beat the throw to home via the left shortstop. The rally however fell short as Perttu Ruuska’s soft hit to the midfield line forced him out at 1st base and handed PattU the jakso.
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| Vimpeli pays tribute to Sami’s record breaking 1000 runs |
In the extra inning, Vimpeli took control of the game with Matias Rita-aho’s bunt hit towards second base giving Mikko Kanala the time needed to reach home before Sami Haapakoski’s throw. With the game on the line, PattU lost their first out as Piispanen was caught between 2nd and 3rd on an intentional bad pitch by Perttu Ruuska. From there PattU simply couldn't get it going and the game was done. Vimpeli won the supervuoro 1-0.
Whilst PattU will be pleased to have come away with a point from the game, I suspect they will be disappointed that they couldn’t pounce on their opportunities and bury this game after winning the first jakso. Sami’s performance in the game was not at his usual best and he didn’t score a run or RBI. In fact, Sami’s percentage at moving the point runner was noticeably lower than usual - 33%. For Vimpeli, Matias Rinta-aho and Perttu Ruuska put in solid performances to grind out the win. Rinta-aho scored 3 RBI, including the game winning run in the supervuoro (extra inning).
PattU are starting to sink whilst other teams start to recover from early defeats and poor results. Joensuu has overtaken them in the table recently and look unlikely to fall back down again. With teams like Kitee and Seinäjoki playing well, it looks like Pattijoki are consigned to the lower end of the playoff places unless something changes. Vimpeli’s rebuild project is firmly in hand and their chances of rising up the table are good, but only if we see Kitee start to falter.
Vimpelin Veto
| # | Pelaaja | Up | Ly | Tu | KL | 1% | 2% | 3% | K% | KL % | P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pattijoen Urheilijat
| # | Pelaaja | Up | Ly | Tu | KL | 1% | 2% | 3% | K% | KL % | P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elsewhere in the league
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| Kempele beat high performing Kitee |
Kankaanpää gave Seinäjoki a fright when they led the first jakso 1-4. Seinäjoki however came back into the game, but the jakso ended 4-4. In a low scoring second jakso Henri Puputti’s RBI in he 3rd inning gave Seinäjoki an insurance run that saved them the game. Miikka Riikonen’s RBI in the 4th was all KaMa could muster and the game ended with Seinäjoki taking 2 points.
Siilinjärvi held out hopes of causing another upset following on from their win over Vimpeli on Tuesday this week; however Joensuu had the edge in both jakso and took a 3 point victory by the narrowest of margins. Juha Puhtimäki donned the joker’s jersey and handed over the reigns as pitcher to Severi Surakka. Baseball fans will be familiar with rotating players, but in Pesäpallo terms this was quite novel, in particular given that Puhtimäki is the 2019 Lukkari of the year and a key figure in Joensuu’s defensive game.
On Friday Manse broke the deadlock against IPV in the middle of the second jakso to win 1-0. Having tied the first jakso 4-4, Mikko Haukkala and Juha Niemi brought runners home to score and earn a much relished victory. Juuso Myllyniemi continues to impress with his skills at bat, adding 7 successful hits to his league leading tally with 2 runs scored as well.
In Kempele, Sotkamo took home the victory but were denied the full 3 points when KeKi led the 2nd jakso until the top of the 4th inning and ultimately tied. Kempele continue to prove themselves to be an entertaining team to watch and threaten even the biggest teams.
After KPL’s loss to Joensuu earlier this week, it almost looked like one of the leagues poorest performing teams would also beat them. Despite winning the first jakso 5-8 KPL were stunned by KoU outscoring them in the second jakso 5-2. After a scoreless supervuoro, KPL breathed a sigh of relief as Juho Hacklin brought Iiro Nokkala home to win the kotiutuskilpailu (scoring contest) 1-2.
22nd July 2020
Kempeleen Kiri v Kiteen Pallo -90
2-1k (2-0, 1-3, 1-1, 1-0)
23rd July 2020
Seinäjoen JymyJussit v Kankaanpään Maila
1-0 (4-4, 2-1)
Siilinjärven Pesis v Joensuun Maila
0-2 (2-3, 3-4)
24th July 2020
Kempeleen Kiri v Sotkamon Jymy
0-1 (3-7, 4-4)
Manse PP, Tampere v Imatran Pallo-Veikot
1-0 (4-4, 2-0)
Koskenkorvan Urheilijat v Kouvolan Pallonlyöjat
1-2k (5-8, 5-2, 0-0, 1-2)
Photographs
Cover - (c) Pattijoen Urheilijat Raahe 2020
Photograph 2 - (c) Vimpelin Veto 2020
Photograph 3 -
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