The women’s Superpesis final series between Manse PP and Lapua Virkiä started on Saturday. Manse PP kept its home advantage and took the first place in the Finnish championship.
Kamilla Rajander,
Anssi Mertaranta
18:58•Updated 19:02
Radio broadcast of the women’s 2nd final at Areena on Sunday 1 September. from 3:50 p.m.
On Saturday, Manse PP took the first stake in the Finnish baseball championship, when it defeated Lapua Virkiä in the opening match of the women’s Superpesis final series 2–0 (4–0, 5–4).
– In my opinion, we played a game that we had prepared for, Manse PP’s game manager Manu Vartia described after the win.
In the first inning of the game, both teams showed their outfield strength, as neither team saw a single situation in the innings.
In Ruuttu’s break interview Siri School thought that both teams had tension in the opening period, but Manse PP was able to break it down faster.
The tension seemed to dissipate already in the second shift, where Mansen’s inside game went much better than the first.
Right at the beginning of it, the team built the starting line. Tampere’s hit cannon Eskola, who came to break up the drive, shouted the home crowd of 2131 Kiira Kauton.
“We could have been more blunt”
In the third inning, the lead grew even more. Initially Anna Ala-Kauhaluma brought Kauto home, and a moment later the advancing queen Saga-Angelia Raudasoja pinged home while the outfield fumbled to pick up Eskola’s tap.
Manse PP’s outside play continued convincingly throughout the period, and there was no doubt about the winner of the period.
– Our away game was really good, except for a few small mistakes. We could have been much duller, game director Vartia assessed after the match.
Virkiä got the first three-pointer of the match, the only one of the period, only in the last inning. The batting joker Janette Lepistö got to try to break the start, but when there were already two pieces under, the last shot falling out of bounds secured the period victory for the people of Tampere.
Virki improved in the indoor game, Manse PP answered
At the beginning of the second period, Virki was able to restrain Siri Eskola’s take-home attempt in the starting position. Despite the fire, the bases remained filled, and Olenius’ unstoppable shot into the backcourt for a triple put the home team in the lead.
Virkiä responded to this immediately with his leveling. Iina Lehtinen put the ball in the middle in the back position and Kaisa Peräaho managed to get the ball into the home net before.
A few moments later, the Tampere kicker Hukka did not immediately get possession of the ball after Janette Lepistö’s bow, and ran home Emma Kiviniemi brought the guests into the lead for the first time in the match.
Peräaho said after the match that during the break the team did not focus much on game-related matters.
– Mostly we blew it a little and decided that now we will focus and get a few successes, Peräaho said.
The people of Tampere didn’t stay in a losing position for long, as the team immediately got level in the next inning and took the lead again when Eskola scored Raudasoja and Olenius scored Huka.
With the equalizer in the third, Virkiä fought back to level, while Peräaho went home after Janette Lepistö succeeded again with the stick.
Lapua has a chance for revenge right away on Sunday
In the home team’s last inning, Saaga-Angelia Raudasoja showed her speed again, and Manse PP celebrated its fourth run of the period after Siri Eskola hit. Virkia challenged the situation, but the jury’s decision was upheld.
– Yes, I am happy that Saaga is in my team, Eskola said after the match.
The video review did not dull Eskola’s mood, as immediately after that he scored the second run of his innings. Now Virpi Hukka ran home.
Virki would have been required to score three runs in the last tying game in the rainy early evening in Tampere, but Tampere’s celebration began when the team only managed to narrow it down by one.
Virkkie has a chance for revenge right away on Sunday at home. The championship requires three wins.
– Yes, I have a very confident feeling. There is the support of the home crowd, and anyway we won’t be discouraged by one match like this, Kaisa Peräaho assured and anticipates a tight second match.