Joensuu Maila’s captain Justus Niemeläinen flew headfirst into the Savonjoki surrounding Vimpeli’s Saarikenti.
In the Superpesis semi-final match at Vimpel’s Saarikent, a dramatic and dangerous situation was seen again, from which Joensuun Maila’s header Justus Niemeläinen survived with a start.
Niemeläinen applied Matias Rinta-ahon I hit from the second over and then fell violently into the Savonjoki River surrounding Saarikenta. Niemeläinen fell after his volte on the rock of Savonjoki.
In that situation, Niemeläinen also hit a ball pit left on the lawn, which is used to collect balls left in the river. JoMa was replaced by a joker in the middle of the outside shift Juho Toivola.
The club tells Urheilu that Niemeläinen is fine and will be able to play in the future as well.
This is already the second time this season that a player flies to Savonjoki at speed. Earlier in the summer, Hyvinkää Tahko Teemu Nurmio plunged into the river head first while chasing the ball.
– Yes, it was once again a wild-looking situation. Thank God the man is apparently fine. There was a slight jolt. Those are really wild situations, Vimpelin Veto’s batting joker Jukka-Pekka Vainionpää commented to Urheilu.
Vainionpää, who beat Kunnar in the match, is a little more silent on whether changes should be made to the field.
– Yes, it has been done and stones have been removed from there. I’m in my first season (in Vimple), so I’m not really going to comment now. I think it’s a great feature of this field and nothing more than that, says Vainionpää.
The violent situations have sparked discussion in baseball circles. Among others, the game manager of Pori’s Pesäkarhu women’s Superpesis team took a stand on the matter on Twitter Jarkko Pokela.
– The spirit of Saarikentä includes that river, which is quite a classic. Still, you should be able to aim for the ball without the risk of paralysis. There should be some compromise. Maybe I’m a flower hat, Pokela wrote.
Pokela was told that it is not necessary to run full speed to the bench. However, according to the game director, this is an absurd explanation.
– You have to be able to aim for the ball on the field safely.
Streaming service Ruuttu’s baseball expert Antti Tokkari on the other hand, ponders whether the second side of Saarikentä could be safer with small changes.
– Some of the nesting people: “The whole Savonjoki should be filled.” Others reply, “I’ll stop watching baseball if something is done to the river.” Could there be an alternative to stop the bickering and make the other side safer with a little promotion, Tokkari wrote.
Rurutu’s baseball reporter Olli Eronen says on Twitter that the municipality of Vimpel plans to make changes to Savonjoki. According to him, dangerous rocks and stumps are to be removed from Savonjoki on Tuesday, and the municipality is also investigating other possibilities to promote safety.
Vimpelin Veto won the match 2–0 (5–1, 7–0). The second semi-final pair Manse PP–Hyvinkään Tahko starts on Tuesday in Tampere.