Suomi Tour 2021: Game review Roihuttaret v Mynämäen Vesa 13.08.2021

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 2021 joker) Teea-Kaisa Vikiö. 

1st Jakso

Mynämäen won the hutunkeitto and decided to put Roihu in to bat. But this proved to be a costly error, as Roihu immediately put runs on the board in the 1st inning. Teea-Kaisa Vikiö hit a soft line drive to the right shortstop allowing Camilla Höglund to score. The throw to home was off the mark and allowed runners to reach 2nd and 3rd base. This set up Roihu’s second run of the inning with Salli Palola’s line drive beyond the midfield line. Mynämäen were shut down completely in the 1st inning, with no one reaching 3rd base safely. 

In the second inning, Roihu extended their lead, with Vikiö again producing a big at bat. This time, the hit was to right field and allowed Marrianne Penttinen to score. Despite an injury scare to Oona Rantomaa, who was hit by a throw sliding to 3rd base, Roihu kept their offence going and Rantomaa made it home off Peppi Tuominen’s hit to left field. MyVe clawed a run back in the bottom of the inning off Ella Kuusisto’s hit deep to centre field that passed the outstretched glove of the shortstop.

Despite the minor setback, Roihu opened the throttle with a bases loaded home run from Lotta Nummikari that slipped past the glove of the fielder at the right field line. Salli Palola brought Nummikari home with a hit straight down the middle of the field that found space. Vilma Haapala made it 10-1 as a bouncing hit to the right shortstop was misfielded and Salli Palola capitalised on the error. Another scoreless half inning from MyVe pretty much gifted Roihu the jakso.

A looping hit from Lotta Nummikari just inside the left field line saw Marianne Penttinen score to give Roihu a double digit lead. Vilma Haapala scored an unexpected RBI when her hit straight down the centre missed the glove of the shortstop and Lilian Koskela scored. By now Mynämäen were broken and needed to reset - soon enough the jakso was over and Roihu secured a point.

2nd Jakso

With the scores set to zero for the second jakso, Roihu were determined to carry on as they finished in the first jakso. Mynämäen were left scoreless once again in the 1st inning, but soon found themselves having to chase the game once more. Oona Rantomaa opened the scoring with a looping hit to centre field, which proved profitable for Tilda Palola later in the inning to make it 2-0. Oona Rantomaa batted round and hit run number 3 in the inning with an unexpected error at the backfield line, where the ball seemed to slip through the outfielder’s glove.

Unlike the first jakso, MyVe managed to start finding gaps in the field, and as the pressure increased, so did the unforced errors. Iida Tikkakoski scored a solo home run by a deep hit to centre field that bested both outfielders as they came together trying get to the ball. panicked Roihu and moments later their outfielders were colliding trying to catch a fly ball - the ball dropped and Tikkakoski scored to cut the lead to just 1 run. In the bottom of the inning however Nummikari lifted the ball beyond midfield into space to give Roihu a 2 run lead and relieve some pressure.

In the 3rd inning, Mynämäen came close to cutting into Roihu’s lead, but a swift throw to home narrowly beat the runner to keep the score 4-2. In the bottom of the inning Nummikari added to the lead with a hit to the infield- this time it was the runner who beat the throw to home, as Marrianne Penttinen scored.

The fielding woes at the outfield continued for Roihu, as Veera Tyynelä hit the ball to deep right field and foxed the outfielder, leading to a 3 run home run. With the scores now tied, MyVe sensed a chance to strike and Ella Kuusisto launched to ball back to right field. The outfielder once again was misplaced, having run in to try and take the catch and allowed the ball to bounce beyond her and Tyynelä scored.

In the bottom of the 4th, Roihu pulled it back with Peppi Tuominen’s hit to centre field being mishandled and Marrianne Penttinen scoring the tying run. But the home side couldn’t break through and the scores remained level - denying Roihu the 3 points was a moral victory for MyVe.

Analysis

Roihu dominated the first jakso, both at bat and in the field. MyVe simply couldn’t get into scoring position and too many handling errors gifted Roihu more opportunities to score. But it was as a result of some key errors in the Roihu backfield that Mynämäen found their way back into the game.

In terms of Roihu players: Teea-Kaisa Vikiö was a solid performer at the plate with 2 RBI, but pitcher Lotti Nummikari had a huge performance, with 1 home run and 6 RBI. Nummikari also dominated MyVe when pitching and made outs look easy. 

For Mynämäen it’s harder to find solid performers, as they were generally outplayed; however pitcher Veera Tyynelä went 7/12, with one home run and 3 RBI. For the most part, Mynämäen were plagued by small errors and facing tough pitching.

It was a great experience to head out to the East side of the city and visit Roihu’s new stadium. The main stand is comfortable and functional, with great views of the pitch. If you visit Helsinki, it is definitely worth taking a trip… if results continue to come their way Roihu will be back next season in Superpesis.

                                                                 

Game stats