The roundup - 2nd to 9th August 2020

Dahlström scored 5 RBI against JoMa, but the reigning champions had the edge

The big stories

Game manager for KPL hit in the head during Joensuu game

During the most anticipated game of the week, KPL’s game manager Iiro Haimi suffered a serious head injury during the game against Joensuu at Kerubi stadium that brought play to a complete standstill. During one of Joensuu’s innings, JoMa captain Aleksi Rautiainen reached out and swung at an intentionally bad pitch, only to see it strike Haimi behind his left ear. Haimi managed to walk off the field of play after initial treatment, before being taken to North Kyle Hospital for X-rays and a CT scan. Haimi was later discharged from hospital and advised to rest. As a result, Haimi will miss KPL’s next match against IPV and Anssi Lammila will take up the reigns. 


I sincerely hope Iiro recovers well and my thoughts are with him at this time.


Sami Partanen plays his 600th game in Superpesis

There are not many players who can boast a long and rewarding career like Sami Partanen, who reached another significant moment in his career on Sunday - 600 Superpesis games. There are only 2 players in history who have played more games, the legendary Toni Kohonen (732 and counting) and Pasi Pirinen (607). 


Sami’s Superpesis career started with Kitee in 1997 at the age of 17. With 3 championships and 16 East v West selections, Partanen is a familiar face to many fans of the game. 


Around the league

8th August

Seinäjoki took 3 points from a tight game against Koskenkorva, winning each jakso 3-2. Things are tightening up in Koskenkorva’s defence, but they still struggle to come out on top against bigger teams. Seinäjoki want to secure as high a place in the table, which realistically is 4th.


Kitee dominated in their game against a struggling Kankaanpää and showed that they are still strong competitors for a playoff spot. Kankaanpää have now lost 3 in a row and have 2 games against KPL and one game against Joensuu and Vimpeli each before their season ends.


This weekend saw the northernmost game in Superpesis being played in the Arctic Battle between Sotkamo and Pattijoki at Rovaniemi. The game was a low-scoring affair played on a football (soccer) pitch, so conditions were very different to the usual playing fields. In the end, both jakso were decided in the last innings and Sotkamo took home 3 points.


9th August

Sami Partanen’s 600th Superpesis game was marked with a solid win over Siilinjärvi. Partanen’s 2 RBI’s helped to lift IPV, but it was Mikko Kosonen who stole the show with 5 RBI including a home run. 


Despite a serious head injury stopping play, Joensuu claimed 3 vital points against KPL in a thrilling back and forth game. With runs up and down the lineup, Joensuu claimed a solid victory despite KPL’s powerful offence. 


The table as it currently stands:


O3p2p1p0pJuP
1 Sojy169412138-8336
2 JoMa157620141-9335
3 KPL157503144-10531
4 Veto157323136-10529
5 KiPa154533128-10525
6 JymyJussit144505108-11822
7 Tahko163337121-14318
8 PattU15162690-10617
9 IPV163328106-10117
10 KeKi153327112-11717
11 KaMa163229100-12615
12 KoU152328113-12914
13 Manse PP16125896-13412
14 SiiPe151221078-1469

Photographs
Cover - (c) Kouvolan Pallonlyöjat 2020

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