Around the league - 30th July 2020
 |
| Joensuu unleash their full potential in another gripping win over league leaders Sotkamo |
Joensuun Maila v Sotkamon Jymy
1-0 (3-3, 5-1)
If there was a clash to rival last week’s epic encounter between Joensuu and KPL then this was it. In a re-run of the 2019 finals, top of the league Sotkamo played back to back games against the reigning champions Joensuu. Sotkamo started the season with a loss to Kempele, but since then they have dominated games and taken 1st place in the league. Joensuu’s start to the season was a little slower with an opening loss to IPV; however Joensuu have been building on performances game after game that culminated in an away win over Sotkamo on Tuesday.
In the first jakso Joensuu opened the scoring in the first inning with Aleksi Rautiainen bringing former Sotkamo veteran Antti Hartikainen home to score from a well placed hit to left field with the bases loaded. The outfielder, Riku Niemi, had to made a split second decision to risk a throw to home that may stop a run, but most likely wouldn’t reach in time, allowing a runner to reach 3rd base safely; or go for the easy out at 3rd but concede the run. Niemi chose the out at 3rd base, which undoubtedly seemed the most logical choice. With the scoreboard registering a run for JoMa, they built on their lead with Iiro Kuosa’s hit to left field clearing both left shortstop and left outfielder to allow Aleksi Rautiainen to score. In the 2nd inning Lauri Rönkkö’s bunt hit gave Joensuu’s 2nd baseman, Mikko Kemppainen too far to run against the blisteringly quick Joni Rytkönen. With the misfield from Kemppainen Sotkamo got their first run on the board.
With the first jakso tied at 3-3 it was all or nothing in the second jakso. Again, it was Joensuu who took control of the game with the first run of the jakso off Mikko Kemppainen’s line drive to left field, bobbling out of the outstretched glove of the outfielder to bring Konsta Kettunen home in the 2nd inning. Juha Puhtimäki and Samuel Tirkkonen made it 3-0 in the 3rd inning with Sotkamo now facing a rampant Joensuu. Aleksi Rautiainen book-ended the day by scoring 2 RBI in the 4th inning to all but win the game. After 3 shutout innings in the jakso, Sotkamo had to score big if they wanted to win. In the end however, Joensuu kept their nerves and shutdown Sotkamo’s offence significantly. Whilst Konsta Kurikka brought home Topi Korhonen to give Sotkamo the start of a rally, it simply never went much further and Joensuu claimed another victory to silence critics of their early season performance.
Joensuu have now won the last 7 games in a row and this game held Sotkamo to the fewest runs they have scored all season. Whilst both teams had almost equal chances to score (Joensuu with 16 and Sotkamo with 15 3rd base situations), the biggest difference between the teams was how often Joensuu managed to move the point runner- 43 times out of 77 attempts, versus 29 from 61. Konsta Kettunen’s 4/4 record at moving the point runner from 2nd to 3rd base was a key reason Joensuu had consistent 3rd base situations; with a solo home run (kunniajuoksu), 2 runs and 8 successful hits out of 9, he was a constant threat at the plate. Despite a tough day for leadoff man Simo Vainikainen (only 2/8 to 1st base), JoMa built the pressure in the game until Sotkamo couldn't hold them back anymore. The big disappointment for Sotkamo was how Antti Korhonen and Roope Korhonen were effectively managed in the game by Joensuu’s defence. The hard hitters struggled to gain an advantage with 3rd base situations when they can to bat and were a combined 1/6 (Antti 0/2 and Roope 1/4) at moving the point runner from 3rd base to home. Lauri Rönkkö had marginally more success, with 2 RBI from 6 3rd base situations, his lowest percentage of successful 3rd base attempts since 14th July against SiiPe and his second lowest all season.
If anyone was still wondering whether Joensuu were still the favourites to win the championship, then these two games surely answered that question. Let’s not forget that both of Joensuu’s championships started with 4th place finishes in the regular season. For a team like Joensuu, they just have to be in it in order to win it; however if they keep putting on performances like this one, they will be top of the table.
Joensuun Maila
| # | Pelaaja | Up | Ly | Tu | KL | 1% | 2% | 3% | K% | KL % | P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sotkamon Jymy
| # | Pelaaja | Up | Ly | Tu | KL | 1% | 2% | 3% | K% | KL % | P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elsewhere in the league
28th July
Kitee were left hurting after their kotiutuskilpailu (scoring contest) loss to Kempele last week; however Kempele rubbed salt into the wound with a 3 point win against them on 28th July. Has Kitee’s run of form ended? Admittedly the game was tight and decided by single runs in both jakso, but Kitee are starting to fall away in the table.
IPV showed some muscle against SiiPe in a 2-0 win that saw the Reds outscore Siilinjärvi 14 runs to 5. Juho Toivola’s huge game saw 6 RBI from 7 3rd base situations (including a home run) and 92% success rate at moving the point runner - his offence alone beat al of SiiPe’s batters in terms of RBI and were instrumental in IPV taking charge of the game.
Kankaanpää’s woes continued as Koskenkorva took 3 points away from home and lifting them above KaMa in the table. Patrik Wahlsten continues to dominate at the plate, with a whopping 7 RBI in the game; however KoU’s Ville-Veikko Olli had a bases loaded home run (kunniajuoksu) that opened the first jakso in the 1st inning and set the pace for the rest of the game.
29th July
Tahko calmed their nerves after an intense first jakso against Manse to take 3 points for the win. Hyvinkää have been directionless for the last half of July and sunk to the bottom of the table; however with a solid win over Kitee and this win over Manse, they are starting to put their season back on track.
30th July
Vimpeli are now sitting confiortably in 4th place in the table with a strong performance at Seinäjoki. JymyJussit have looked strong so far this season, but Vimpeli have been building their season too. Vimpeli’s second 3 point victory over Seinäjoki so far this season shows that they are a cut above JymyJussit, despite their opening day loss.
KPL put the brakes on Hyvinkää’s progress with a strong 3 point win at KSS. Hyvinkää were left chasing the game right from the start and simply couldnt match KPL’s veteran lineup with Jere Dahlström and Toni Kohonen scoring 9 RBI between them (Dahlström 5 from 8 attempts and Kohonen 4 from 4).
28th July 2020
Kankaanpään Maila v Koskenkorvan Urheilijat
0-2 (3-8, 2-4)
Sotkamon Jymy v Joensuun Maila
0-2 (2-8, 5-6)
Kiteen Pallo -90 v Kempeleen Kiri
0-2 (5-6, 1-2)
Imatran Pallo-Veikot v Siilinjärven Pesis
2-0 (4-1, 10-4)
29th July 2020
Hyvinkään Tahko v Manse PP, Tampere
2-0 (1-0, 5-2)
30th July 2020
Seinäjoen JymyJussit v Vimpelin Veto
0-2 (4-5, 3-10)
Kouvolan Pallonlyöjat v Hyvinkään Tahko
2-0 (3-1, 7-2)
Photographs
Cover - (c) Joensuun Maila 2020
Photograph 1 - (c) Joensuun Maila 2020
Comments
Post a Comment