“I don’t know that many repatriates like that”

A baseball player Siri School does whatever he wants with the stick at the moment. On Sunday, Manse PP’s batting machine decided the traditional East-West struggle in favor of the West by scoring the decisive run. The match ended with a 1–0 win for Länne (3–1, 1–1).

Eskola, 24, leads by far the women’s Superpesis batting statistics.

The Kiimingi Urheilijode school has been at the top of the batting statistics for several years. This season, however, the hitting numbers have taken another leap upwards.

After 14 games played, Eskola has amassed 68 runs, eight of which were hits. The nearest player to threaten the title of Eskola’s batting queen is Pori Pesäkarhuje’s konkar Susanna Park, who has 48 home runs. Puisto has been the hitting queen in the previous two seasons.

Lapuan Virkiän Janette Lepistön the hitting record of 9+85=95 from 2018 is in real danger, as Eskola still has ten regular season games left.

Mansen’s hitting cannon has scored 4.9 runs per game this season. The average of Lepistö’s record season of 95 hits was 4.3. Breaking the 100-run mark would require an average of 3.2 from Eskola in the remaining games.

Eskola doesn’t think about statistics, but takes it one game at a time.

– I’ve relaxed to hit my own and good shots. The frontrunners have been running hard, so it’s nice to go home, Eskola tells Urheilu.

Mansen’s players Saga-Angelia in the Iron Age, Kirsi in Ala-Lipasti and Henna with Peltokanka is tied for the triple lead in runs scored this season.

Eskola’s teammate, represented Manse since 2016 Kirsi Ala-Lipasti believes that Eskola is capable of breaking Lepistö’s batting record.

– I absolutely believe it. We have talked about it in the group, but Siri herself doesn’t want to talk about it, so that there won’t be any additional pressure. But it’s really possible that the record will be broken when the spokes have been banging at that pace.

Ala-Lipasti praises his teammate’s versatile hitting technique. Eskola can hit the ball to any side of the field with different styles.

– He can hit cutters, curlers, small ones, bags and everything possible from boundary to boundary. I don’t know very many homers like that, who have such a wide hitting repertoire.

– There is quite a lot to do in the outside game, to catch all those shots. And you can’t get it, and you haven’t got it either.

Ala-Lipasti says that Eskola wants to develop constantly and thinks of new beats even in his spare time.

– He watches videos and also does quite a lot of work himself in order to find areas for improvement.

Played in the East team and represented Kempeleen Kiri Annika Linna has noticed Eskola’s mood.

– Kumura has been very good. Coppers are allowed to perform well. Even when there are fast forwarders coming, it’s hard to smoke. He has a heavy punch. With those hits, there will be spikes, Linna, who plays as a caper, states.

Kempele will face Eskola’s hitting manacle on Wednesday.

After two Finnish championships and one silver medal, Eskola moved from Jyväskylä’s Kirittäri to Manse PP for this season, because he wanted to get responsibility and playing time in the outfield as well. In his new club, Eskola plays outside in the role of catcher in the front field.

The new position in the outfield may be a big reason why Eskola’s hitting game has taken off.

– He is his own worst enemy and thinks too much about hitting. When the outdoor game has come, I haven’t been able to focus only on hitting, Eskola said.

Mansen’s second game leader Antti Vihtkari has helped, according to Ala-Lipasti, to set Eskola up for a top hit. Vihtkari used to coach in Oulu, where Eskola is from.

– They have worked together for many years in the schools, when Antti has coached Eskola’s team.

Manse leads the series by two points ahead of the reigning champion Pori Pesäkarhu. The club’s only championship is from 2017. This season, the team from Tampere may have a chance to add more to the trophy case.

– We are in a good situation, we have won matches and our game is improving. The important games are in the fall, Eskola said.

According to Ala-Lipasti, the team’s goal is to win the Finnish championship. Eskola’s punches are needed for that.

– It seems that Siri is enjoying playing quite a lot at the moment. He has fit in well with our team. He has said that baseball is pretty fun right now.

Manse will face Joensuu on Tuesday and Kempele on Wednesday in away matches.

Eskola and Linna were interviewed by Juhani Kukkasela.