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Showing posts from August, 2021

Elimination preview: 2021

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Can Hamina turn their fortunes around and break SiiPe’s home record? Whilst the spotlight is on the top 8, the most intriguing matchup is the elimination series between SiiPe and Hamina. The loser will be relegated, the winner will have the change to stay in Superpesis if they can beat the league leaders in Ykköspesis (which will be either Oulu or Kuopio).   (14) SiiPe v (15) Hamina SiiPe start this series coming off the back of a remarkably up and down season. Siilinjärvi have beaten the likes of KPL, KiPa, Seinäjoki and Tahko - all at home. In fact, their home record has been so much at odds with their away record, that their points won from home games was 13 (an average of 0.93 per game) and points won from away games was a disastrous 2 (an average of 0.17).  On the other side, Hamina have struggled to reach their potential in 2021, mostly as a result of a series of injuries to Sasu Toikka and Matias Hangasmaa, but the lost opportunities and games where points were given away

Playoff previews 2021: first round

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The regular season has ended and the top 8 teams now know their opponents for the first round.   (1) Manse PP v (7) IPV The star studded Manse side finished top in the regular season and gained the privilege of choosing their first round opponents before anyone else. Manse chose 7th place IPV ahead of the team that finished in 8th (PattU). IPV have had their greatest season in 28 years, when they last made it to the playoffs. The powerful Manse lineup is likely to obliterate IPV, but the reds are in high spirits and their story may continue if they pull off the seemingly impossible once again. Prediction: Manse 3 - 0 IPV (2) Vimpeli v (8) PattU Vimpeli have continued to look impressive at the plate and Sarrikenttä has been a tough place for opponents to visit - especially if they didn’t bring enough dry pairs of socks! PattU’s season has been fairly pedestrian and their final position in the top 8 came as a shock to many, in particular given the fact that they won their final ga

Suomi Tour 2021: Game review - Hamina v Kankaanpää 20.08.2021

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The game officials meet before the game at the legendary Vallikenttä in Hamina Haminan Palloilijat v Kankaanpään Maila 1-0 (3-1, 5-5) My final game review of my Suomi Tour was perhaps the most unexpected. I had not planned to see any games on 20th, as I didn’t think I would have time; however I became available and had the opportunity to visit the iconic stadium at Hamina to watch the game against Kankaanpään Maila. This game comes as the season is drawing to a close and both teams are in need of points. Hamina ideally seek to get enough points to take home field advantage in the elimination series against (almost inevitably) SiiPe. For Kankaanpää, the aim is to avoid the relegation battle completely. Hamina have had a tough start to the season, with injuries playing a key part in the teams poor form. When the team had to self-isolate due to a positive covid result, there was a chance to reset. A change of game manager too has given Hamina a much needed boost. In the games leading

Suomi Tour 2021: Game review - Roihuttaret v SiiPe 15.08.2021

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SiiPe couldn’t break open Roihu’s much improved defense and struggled to create scoring opportunities Roihuttaret, Helsinki v Siilinjärven Pesis 2-0 (2-1, 2-1) On Sunday it was time to venture back out to the east end of Helsinki for another regular season game in women’s Superpesis. This game was between Roihuttaret and Siilinjärven Pesis. Much like the last matchup against MyVe, this was an important game for both teams, who are looking to stay up in Superpesis next season. After Roihu’s win over MyVe on Friday, they were in 10th place going into this game, with a 6 point lead over 12th place SiiPe.  The last time these two teams met, Roihu won the game in a supervuoro after winning the first jakso, only to fade in the second. For SiiPe, this was a “must win” game, with games against Seinäjoen Maila-Jussit and Kirittaret looking likely to be flat out losses. SiiPe’s last point came against Pori 4 days previously, so SiiPe were not to be underestimated (especially if errors start

The table: where do the teams stand?

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Tahko are one of the teams who could finish in the top 8, but their final position hangs in the balance There are only a handful of games left in the season and for some, time is running out to achieve their goals. In this post I look at the table and which teams are on track to reach the spot in the table that they are hoping for. The table below shows the teams games that they have played, how many games they have remaining, their average points per game and the maximum  and minimum possible points per game scores they can achieve. Top 4 For some time the top 4 teams have set themselves apart from the others; Manse, KPL, Sotkamo and Vimpeli have in fact already secured a top 4 finish and therefore home field advantage in the postseason. Only 3 of them however will get a chance to pick their first round opponents. There is one obvious team that the top 4 teams will want to avoid - Joensuu. JoMa have caused problems for the top 4 this season, but they cannot finish higher than 5th

Suomi Tour 2021: Game review Roihuttaret v Mynämäen Vesa 13.08.2021

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Roihu had some great success at bat, but some errors in the outfield cost them a shot at 3 points Roihuttaret, Helsinki v Mynämäen Vesa   1-0 (12-1, 6-6) On Friday I took a short trip to the other side of Helsinki to catch my first regular season game in women’s Superpesis between Roihuttaret and Mynämäen Vesa. The matchup was an important game for both teams, as they both looked to score points to secure their place in Superpesis next year. Roihu came into the game with a 2 point lead in the standings, so a win here would have significantly improved their hopes of staying in Superpesis next season. The last time these 2 teams met was on 9th June, where Roihu dominated and won 0-2 (0-3, 0-4).  Both teams were in a rough patch coming into this game, with only one win each out of their last 5 games. Roihu have scored more runs than MyVe going into this game as well as conceding fewer than MyVe. More than a third of Roihu’s runs have come from the bat of power hitter (and Itä Länsi 2

Suomi Tour 2021: Game review Tahko v Sotkamo 12.08.2021

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Tahko couldn’t build on their rally in the second jakso as a controversial call cast a shadow over the game Hyvinkään Tahko v Sotkamon Jymy 0-2 (1-2, 3-4) The next regular season game that I attended was the matchup between Tahko and Sotkamo. Despite a strong first jakso in their last game, Tahko were overwhelmed by Manse’s firepower. Whilst Sotkamo does not have the same style of offence as Manse, Sotkamo has consistently manufactured runs. Lauri Rönkkö has had a strong season so far and Toni Laakso has slotted into the lineup well. Sotkamo’s last game against Seinäjoki however proved that defensively they can be vulnerable, as they almost blew a 4 run lead in the 4th inning of the second jakso.  In Tahko’s last game, Manse took great pleasure in exploiting the inexperience of Joona Iivonen and put 19 runs past them across the 2 jakso. The team needed to reset and focus on this game, as the struggle for a top 8 spot intensifies. Tahko were 7th in the table going into this game, w

Suomi Tour 2021: Game review Tahko v Manse PP 09.08.21

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Hyvinkään Tahko v Manse PP, Tampere 0-1 (7-7, 3-12) After seeing the Itä v Länsi game live, this is the first regular season game that I attended. Manse are in fine form coming into this game, having dominated the East lineup in the Allstar game with 5 selections! Whilst Tahko sat at 6th in the table coming into this game, this game starts a serious of tough matchups, made even tougher by the fact that regular pitcher Petteri Alanen remains out of the lineup through injury and Teemu Nikkanen returning from injury. In Alanen’s place, Joona Iivonen has made his Superpesis debut and steadily shows improvement at the plate. Manse were heavy favourites coming into this game, but Tahko have proven this season that they can win against top teams, having beaten Joensuu (twice!), Vimpeli and (in their most recent match) KPL. Having watched the Itä v Länsi game live, the Manse players clearly stood out with superb performances - Tuomas Jussila’s leaping grab from a blisteringly fast line dr