Postseason review: semi finals

Perttu Ruuska valiantly tried to keep Vimpeli in the hunt, but Sotkamo were just too much to handle

Joensuun Maila (1) v Kouvolan Pallonlyöjat (4)

Review: Joensuu’s winning streak came to a dramatic end when KPL won Game 1 in a scoring contest (kotiutuskilpailu). After 2 RBI’s from Aleksi Rautiainen in the 1st and 3rd inning, KPL were held scoreless and it looked like “business as usual” for Joensuu, taking the first jakso. The second jakso however saw KPL put the first score on the board as Tommi Mäentausta reached home off Matti Latvala’s hit. Despite 2 more RBI from Aleksi Rautiainen, Joensuu could do nothing more than level the score by the bottom of the 4th inning. KPL then secured the jakso with a Matti Latvala RBI to face the extra inning. The supervuoro was scoreless and the game went to a scoring contest. Reminiscent of Joensuu’s opening loss to IPV, KPL scored the only run in the Kotiutuskilpailu to put them in the driving seat for the series when Tommi Mäentausta was brought home off the bat of veteran hard hitter Jere Dahlström. In Game 2 Aleksi Rautiainen opened the scoring for the visitors, but KSS became a fortress and Joensuu simply couldn’t capitalise on their chances, despite having 14 3rd base situations compared to KPL’s 13. Anssi Lammila’s 2 run home run in the 2nd inning gave KPL a strong base in the first jakso that saw Jere Dahlström then add a further run to their lead before the inning was over. The second jakso was all KPL and Jere Dahlström’s bat was in full swing with 2 more RBIs in the game that ultimately saw KPL through to the final.

Prediction: Joensuu to win 2-0.

Actual result: KPL won 2-0. Hands up who saw that coming a week ago!

Players to look out for: For Joensuu, Aleksi Rautiainen was my player to keep an eye on; in game 1 he was Joensuu’s player of the game with 4 RBI from 5 attempts. In game 2 however KPL shut down Joensuu completely with 7 consecutive scoreless innings after Rautiainen’s RBI in the 1st inning. For KPL I chose Tommi Mäentausta; in this series he was 10/15 when reaching 1st base and was pivotal in KPL’s win at Kerubi, picking up the award for best KPL player in game 1.

Game 1: 1-2k (2-0, 3-4, 0-0, 0-1)

Game 2: 2-0 (3-2, 6-4)

Sotkamon Jymy (2) v Vimpelin Veto (3)

Review:  After 3 tense games Sotkamo booked their place in the final. Overall, the series was exciting, unpredictable and explosive to watch (would you except anything less from these two teams!). Sadly “project Vimpeli” ends without a championship this year - but what an incredible journey it has been. It is easy to forget how far this team came this year; because its Vimpeli and they topped the league last year you would be forgiven in thinking that this was just another year. Vimpeli were dismissed by most critics and pundits as being outsiders and having no real prospect of achieving much this season - a top 4 spot, but nothing more. Yet the team has developed as the year has progressed and the thoroughly deserved their 3rd place finish. Their quarterfinal series against Hyvinkää was by no means an easy opponent, yet they carried off a win to face their rivals Sotkamo in the Semifinals. Game 2 showed just how explosive their offence can be and there were moments across the 3 games that you could clearly see how Perttu Ruuska has grown into the pitcher role. In the end however, Sotkamo are just too strong a team to put down; there are threats up and down the lineup (especially when Joni Rytkönen is on form), but the fact that they have 2 phenomenal pitchers to choose from shows just how exclusive it is to wear the purple and orange. Game 1 saw Sotkamo take a comfortable lead in the series after a strong performance from Niko Korhonen (2 RBI and 90% successful hits), with the team having double the 3rd base situations (16 compared to Vimpeli’s 8). Vimpeli in fact only had one scoring opportunity in the second jakso, where Perttu Ruuska failed to bring home Mikko Vihriälä, who was caught (haava). Game 2 was a complete twist of fate and an early 2 runs in the 1st inning was enough to see Vimpeli take the first jakso 3-2. The second jakso started in rather a different pace, with Sotkamo scoring 3 runs in the 1st inning. By the bottom of the 3rd inning Sotkamo had amassed a 1-9 lead and looked set to force an extra inning; however Matias Rinta-aho started a rally that would see him score 2 RBIs from two separate at bats in the inning. With Sotkamo still holding a 4 run lead going into the bottom of the 4th inning the game was surely heading for a supervuoro? Wrong. Perttu Ruuska scored to keep the energy going in the Vimpeli camp, by which time the Sotkamo defence just looked tired and beaten. As Matias Rinta-aho came to the plate, there was still a way to go, but a perfect shot to the outfield bounced and left the broken Sotkamo backfield to accept 4 runs. In an instant, Vimpeli and won the game. Game 3 was held on Tuesday and whilst Vimpeli still had the wind in their sails, there was nothing to choose between the 2 teams at the end of the first jakso. With the first jakso tied 2-2 it all rested on the second jakso to determine who would reach the final. Sotkamo turned up the heat and put 4 unanswered runs on the board to end Vimpeli’s hopes of reaching the final.

Prediction: Sotkamo to win 2-1. I think it is also worth quoting what I said about which games would by won by which team “Overall I think Sotkamo has the edge, but Saarikenttä can be a wild place to play and I wouldn’t be surprised if a few Sotkamo players will be diving into the river as Vimpeli players round the bases!“

Actual result: Sotkamo won 2-1 and Saarikenttä was definitely wild!

Players to look out for: Sotkamo’s Lauri Rönkkö was much better in this series and, despite having a little impact in game 1, really dug Sotkamo out of a hole early in game 3. Perttu Ruuska for Vimpeli was my other pick - the future is bright for his pitching career, but there were still times that Sotkamo could pile on the runs; at Saarikenttä Vimpeli pulled off a dramatic comeback to win, but his game still needs to develop.

Game 1: 2-0 (2-1, 4-0)

Game 2: 2-0 (3-2, 11-9)

Game 3: 1-0 (2-2, 4-0)