The women of Manse PP took another shot at the Finnish championship on Sunday, when Lapua Virki fell 1–0. The series is interrupted next Saturday in Tampere.
Kamilla Rajander,
Laura Arffman
Manse PP continued on Sunday in Lapua where they left off at home on Saturday. The team from Tampere clung even more tightly to the Finnish championship, when Lapuan Virkiä fell in the second final match of the women’s Superpesis 1–0 (4–1, 0–0).
The players of Manse PP have said that they are in their own bubble during the final series. It was also confirmed by the team coach Virpi Hukka.
– It’s a bubble like that, where it’s really good to be and play baseball. It’s safe and nice and there’s a good feeling, so we enjoy these games, Hukka said after the second victory.
Eskola continued
Manse PP’s star striker Siri Eskola the high tide continued on Sunday.
Eskola, who scored five runs on Saturday, had three runs in the balance from the teams’ second meeting. One of them decided the period victory for the people of Tampere and in the end was also enough to win the match.
– We have made quite a lot of shot selections before the game. It’s pretty clear already at the point when I go to the batting place. Of course, it was exciting to see what Lapua has come up with for today, Eskola said during the episode break.
The match got off to a flying start when Lapua, who won the hutu soup, chose to start the inning and got forwards on the field right from the top of the first. The home team finally took the lead thanks to the Jokers, when Kaisaleena Oukko thank you home Riina Kerolan with a space.
Manse PP acknowledged this immediately with its equalizer. Initially Anna Ala-Kauhaluma brought on his stoop Ella Korpelan home.
Then it was Siri Eskola’s first shift of the day. The second side’s shot dipped inside the boundaries and Saga-Angelia Raudasoja ran home.
There was more to come in the second innings. Eskola aimed his shot in the same direction again at the start of the drive, and the ball ran away from the field after hitting it far enough that both Raudasoja and Hukka were able to reach the home net.
Virki remained without three situations in the next two innings. In the last inning, the team showed better performances again, but the effort was not enough to close the gap, as the result was only one narrowing run.
Runless second period
After the first episode, Virkiä’s batting joker Janette Lepistö emphasized patience and determination. The home team came out of the break with a brisk look and was able to keep a zero in the Tampere running column until the end of the period.
In its last inning, Manse PP had time to celebrate a run already, when Eskola’s Kumura got in between and Raudasoja pressed home.
Virkia, however, challenged the verdict given after a tight competition. The video check showed that the Lapua locker Anni Heikkilä it was like being in the home net with the ball before the speedster Raudasoja and the run turned into a cross on the scoreboard.
Keeping the opponent at zero was still not enough, as Manse PP’s strong outside game controlled Virkiä’s play, especially in a zero situation.
The fact that Virki didn’t get a single three-point situation in the latter period, let alone a run, and the end of the period was just enough for the people of Tampere, shows the strong outside game of the Tampere team.
– We got out a good movement and confusion and a joke on top of a good trick. It kept Mansen at zero, but it’s not enough, Lapua Virkiä’s game manager Jussi Muilu regretted.
Championship with a break for Manse
Manse PP’s away win means that the championship is on hold for the team this coming Saturday in front of the home crowd at the Kaup baseball stadium.
– Now we have caught the opponent’s edge well in the outside game, so that their good hitters have not been able to hit. Let’s continue to refine them a bit and think about what could possibly come from it, then we will have our tight outdoor game also this weekend, Virpi Hukka was already planning the third meeting.
Hukka wasn’t worried about having to wait a week for the next game.
– We won the first game, even though (before that) there was a long break, so why don’t we win the third one as well, Hukka said.
Virkiä’s game director Muilu feels that the breaks will become necessary.
– Now we have five days to plot new things and come up with something for the zero and one situation. It takes a lot, but we will continue the fight and everything is still open, Muilu said.
‘s live broadcast of the third final match on Sat 7.9. Areena and TV2 from 12:45.