Women's Superpesis Notes 2024

Based on the season previews on the Hutunkeittäjät Podcast. Translation difficulties and personal game knowledge meant some more nuanced takes are exluded but here are the main points.

Overall

12 teams take part in Women's Superpesis, who play 24 matches over the regular season: Double round-robin plus 2 extra matches with pairings determined by last season's results.

The top 6 teams enter the quarterfinals directly, and 7-10 play playoff qualifers (paired 7vs10, 8vs9). The qualifiers are best of 3, playoffs are best of 5.

The 11th and 12th teams will play against each other in a best of 5. The loser drops directly to Ykköspesis, and the winner will play for their Superpesis slot against the loser of the Ykköspesis finals (the winner of which advanced directly).

The Teams and Budgets

Haminan Palloilijat - 150,000€

  • Advanced to Superpesis for 2023, held on to their position fairly easily despite expert analysis predicting difficulties for them.
  • Gathered points by playing well against the lower half of the league. 8 wins over 2023.
  • Team struggles to score runs. Second-fewest runs of the league last season with 95.
  • Batter Joker Taru Toikka is the highlight of the team, having batted 43 runs total.
  • Jutta Kuoppala of Lapuan Virkiä is on loan contract to play front fielder as replacement of injured Terhi Värri, and Minna Liusvaara from the Ykköspesis team of Seinäjoen Maila-Jussit. Both were described as pretty good transfers for a team like this.
  • After the podcast was aired, Pitcher Johanna Karjanlahti was also announced to be on loan from SMJ, replacing Essi Rytteri who has a knee injury. Seems like this was a very short notice transfer, as the podcast from two days earlier is still convinced Rytteri is pitching.
  • Other acquisitions include Ellen Kentala from Roihu, Jasmiina Juntunen and Annika Utriainen.
  • Departing player Niina Nukarinen, who appeared to be somewhat of a standout player at least in terms of leadership.

Their ability to score was highlighted as the thing to watch for, and Haminan Palloilijat were predicted to keep out of the dropout qualifiers.

Hyvinkään Tahko - 100,000€

  • Restrained acquisitions with Batter Joker Henriikka Harinen from Roihu. Harinen showed good form over the winter season with 10 batted runs in 5 games.
  • Plenty of batting power in the team, but lacks ability to advance bases.
  • Disappointing previous season for the team, with expectations of a playoff position.
  • Fairly good showing during the winter series.
  • Other batter highlights include Lotta Nummikari, Pinja Arbelius and Lotta Vahvelainen, who absolutely must do better than last year.
  • Home field at Pihkala is fairly open and helps with clearout hits.
  • Johanna Ylöstalo has been the point runner but the tailing runners have not stayed consistent over the winter.
  • Milla Väistö was highlighted from among the team as an up-and-coming player, who was front fielder in the winter.
  • Manager Marko Ruuskanen was blamed on 2023's failures, but has notiecably improved like for many lower Superpesis teams, and he directs the team with much thought to the team's strengths and weaknesses.
  • Podcasters disagree on who the MVP of the team is, being split between Lotta Vahvelainen and Lotta Nummikari

After finishing 3rd to last previous season, they are predicted to at least score more championship points this season. Thing to look for is the composition of their front batting order that has been in flux lately.

Pöytyän Urheilijat - 150,000€

  • Returns to Womens' Superpesis this season after falling off in 2022.
  • The home field feels like it's in the middle of nowhere.
  • Mika Lehto is the manager, and has managed other teams fairly high in the standings.
  • Name of interest in the management is one of the top players of all time in womens' Superpesis, Emma Körkkö as a coach (retired as player in 2022 from Jyväskylän Kiri). Jokingly highlighted as the MVP of the team, as she does not actually play.
  • Not expecting an easy summer for the team.
  • On loan from SMJ, Fanni Tuuri joins the team, to make up for the apparent lack of runners in Pöytyän Urheilijat.
  • Sanni Kyläpekka has been playing as the front runner, being the best of the team at it.
  • Batter Maria Sveholm has bold but inconsistent batting solutions.
  • Overall the team does not look bad.
  • Decently good expectations for the coming season.
  • Pitcher Lydia Eskola is good, possibly the most important player of the team, even compared to the general importance of the pitcher.
  • Pitching regulations in womens' Superpesis are labyrinthine and annoying and it is hoped Eskola will be able to navigate them coming from Ykköspesis.

Roihuttaret, Helsinki - 181,000€

Sidenote, first of several teams to not go by "townnames's teamname" at pesistulokset.fi, so the hometown is mentioned afterwards. The organization is formally Roihu, with the feminine -ttaret added on informally.

  • Lots of departures from last season, many key players. 7 in total.
  • Not a lot of draw in the team, but managed to put together a decent team despite the situation.
  • Most important acquisition is manager and head coach Jyrki Pellonperä.
  • Previous manager Toni ojala was a good coach, but not manager, and the situation has advanced greatly with Pellonperä.
  • Highlighted player Oona Tuononen, excellent acquisition. One of the players who will surprise positively.
  • Roihu is a suprisingly quick team. Plenty of running power.
  • Erika Väliheikki is expected to be in a leadership role in the turbulent team. Also Sohvi Korhonen and Salli Palola.
  • From SMJ loan player Anni Kotimaa is playing as a fielder. Excellent batter according to batter Joker of SMJ, Aino-Kaisa Mantere. Big question mark in terms of field play.
  • Pitcher Enni Hannuniemi has a good pole pitch, but has a weak throwing arm.

Roihu is not a guaranteed last place team, considering the extreme evenness of the 9th to 12th place teams. Plenty of positive energy in home games.

Joensuun Maila - 130,000€

  • One win away from playoffs last season. Sets up too high expectations?
  • Near-guaranteed to make it to the quarterfinals, semis much more unrealistic.
  • Best point runner in the league Johanna Pirskanen left the team, nearly unreplaceable.
  • New manager Tommi Luostarinen not as unpredictable as the previous one. His brother plays NHL for the Florida Panthers.
  • JoMa's offensive play hinges on batting Jokers Maria Kaakinen and Hanna Toivanen.
  • Noora Pasi one of the best number 2 players in the league. Will Luostarinen offer more opportunities for clearout hits considering she's an extremely hard hitter?
  • Enough talent to play two "spearheads" (god knows what it actually translates to).
  • Pitcher Veera Toikka is a good, chaotic player forcing the other team to pay attention. Teams might be prepared for it this season.
  • Otherwise defensive play needs more confidence and consistency.

JoMa has a good team, but there are plenty of teams with slightly stronger strengths. What kind of pesis will manager Luostarinen play over the summer? The most middling team in the league.

Fera, Rauma - 500,000€

  • For many years has looked like they might make the semifinals, so far have not.
  • More departures than arrivals this season, incuding manager Pellonperä.
  • Point runner Miia Puolakka is a quick runner, but ultimately made it all the way home less often than expected.
  • Tight defensive play.
  • 3rd most runs in the winter series is promising.
  • Pitcher Ilona Hakoniemi known for pitching with a helmet on voluntarily. Only players born from 2008 on are mandated to wear a helmet regardless of playing position. Very high pole pitch.
  • Off-topic fact, the original rules of Pesäpallo mandated that the ball had to be round at the start of the game.

Expected position around 6-8, possibly slightly better than JoMa.

Mailattaret, Vaasa - 199,500€

  • Strong batting game, scored many runs.
  • Has played two seasons in Superpesis so far.
  • Many changes in lineup every autumn. Potentially improved defensive game this season?
  • Tough winter season, not a single 2-0 win, but a very close series overall.
  • Team's MVP is Riikka Polso, high up in both advancing and batting statistics.
  • Not the fastest team.
  • Pitcher Veera Tyynelä, occasionally Jutta Jyrkkä. Pitching play needs more work. Tyynelä plays good games, but is uneven in many aspects. Remains to be seen which pitcher will be the "starting pitcher".

Jyväskylän Kirittäret - 461,000€

Note that the -ttäret suffix is not optional like with Roihu, as Jyväskylän Kirittäret and Jyväskylän Kiri are different entities, the latter of which has a mens' Ykköspesis team.

  • Since 2001, 12 golds, 8 silvers and one bronze.
  • However, podcasters do not predict another Superpesis championship.
  • One reason could be departure of star manager and coach Jussi "Nalle" Viljanen.
  • Many individual causes that may discount Kirittäret as champions
  • That said, never discount Kirittäret
  • Still a good team, but many star players lost
  • Venla Karttunen has been and will now especially be a central player in the team
  • Viivi Partanen will be an exellent point runner
  • Key batter Tinja Töyrylä
  • Of greatest interest in the lineup is pitcher Mari Mantsinen. She was severely injured late last season and is rumored to be able to play in June. She is a candidate for the best pitcher of the past ten years and if she's anywhere near top form upon return, it will shake things up quite a bit.
  • Selina Similä is an acquisition very quick on her feet, best runner of last season.
  • Stand-in pitcher Ronja Salmela started out well, but has run into difficulties since then. Performance anxiety? (Or Steve Blass disease for the MLB fans)
  • Tinja Töyrylä is an excellent fielder. Iida Pajunen has been struggling somewhat.
  • Brand new stadium last year, hopefully the fans keep showing interest (yours truly will definitely go see games). East-West in Jyväskylä this year also elevates interest.
  • Second period last inning, Kirittäret batting, get runner on 1st -> Manager calls for timeout, happened every time in the winter matches.

Pesäkarhut, Pori - 441,000€

  • Champions of 2023
  • "Superplayers" Tiia Peltonen & Emilia Linna, most dangerous duo of the league
  • Emilia Itävalo retired from playing
  • Johanna Pirskanen, great runner from JoMa
  • Team's lead pitcher Minttu Vettenranta was out of action for the winter, important player for the defensive side.
  • Team has struggle with running in the past
  • Who will be the strong #2 batter the team needs?
  • Jussi Haapakoski from mens' multiple champion team Sotkamon Jymy coaching team to manager of defending womens' champion.
  • Patience not part of the local fans' vocabulary.
  • Haapakoski used to doing background work, good handle on the demands on the job.
  • Everyone wants to beat the defending champion.

Seinäjoen Maila-Jussit - 380,000€

  • Made semis last year, broke the glass ceiling so to say.
  • "More likely that the team drops in the quarterfinals than advancing to the finals."
  • Undeniably a good team, but so are many others. Pori, Lapua, Tampere, at least better.
  • Team has only strengthened recently.
  • Return of Silja Syrjälä significant, good player in defense and offense.
  • Tea Santahuhta and Johanna Karjanlahti split pitching duties last season, Karjanlahti now on loan with Hamina.
  • Work between front fielder Syrjälä and the pitcher important.
  • Aino-Kaisa Mantere ("Magical Mantere") reigning batting queen, does whatever she wants, even against good teams.
  • Narrow scope of batting talent outside Mantere? Anni Laakso basically only other.
  • 15y.o. Matilda Niskakangas may be in the lineup more often, after three games in the past two seasons.
  • SMJ's junior talent department in good order.
  • Team's goal according to the manager is to give the team the best environment to do their sport. Medals as goals results in short-sighted thinking.
  • Manager was most impressed by Lapuan Virkiä.

Lapuan Virkiä - 300,000€

  • Champs of the very first Winter Super that concluded last month.
  • Bronze the last two season, 2016 was last finals.
  • Jussi Muilu as manager from Jyväskylän Lohi after nine years. Lohi plays in mens' Ykköspesis, sometimes called "the mother of all beer league teams". Tough transition for Muilu.
  • He seems to have adapted well over the winter, judging by the results.
  • Virkiä's is balanced in strengths. Lots of competition in lineup spots.
  • Anni Heikkilä one of the best pitchers in the league. Described as "annoying" by opponents.
  • Janette Lepistö a favorite for this season's batting queen.
  • Kaisa-Leena Saukko one of the best runner Jokers.
  • Petra Kerola is a fast #1 player. Acquisition Charlotta Höglund slower, but very good at getting onto the field.
  • Historically struggled with fielders. Anniina Kangasluoma potentially one of the top rear fielders in the league.
  • Camilla Höglund's role in offense a question mark. Who plays #3?

Manse PP, Tampere - 450,000€

  • "Can a team like this NOT win?"
  • Unmatched pitcher play with Venla Tanhua.
  • Saaga-Angelia Raudasoja in the front field, loses to no-one.
  • Shortstops a question mark, good but no star players.
  • Strong runners, esp. Virpi Hukka. Reigning Pesäpallo-player of the year.
  • Podcasters basically just naming most of the team as good ones.
  • Predicted most runs in the regular season.
  • New manager Manu Vartija needs to think how to keep it going into the autumn.
  • The longer the situation stays tight with few runs either way, the more the team struggles.
  • Stirring of the managerial structure raises questions about the upcoming season.
  • What will the batting order solidify into?

The predicted finalists will then be Virkiä and Manse PP, with Manse PP taking the championship.

Managers' Evaluations

Best Player

  • Virpi Hukka, Manse
  • Janette Lepistö, Virkiä

Best Pitcher

  • Anni Heikkilä, Virkiä
  • Ilona Hakoniemi, Fera

Best Rear Fielder

  • Virpi Hukka, Manse
  • Tinja Töyrylä, Kirittäret

Best Runner

  • Saaga-Angelia Raudasoja, Manse
  • Johanna Pirskanen, Pesäkarhut

Best Away Field in terms of mood

  • Pori Pesäpallostadium

End

In the season opener event at Fuengirola, Spain on the 27th of April SMJ played against Fera.

Regular season matches start on the 8th of May with Pesäkarhut vs Pöytyän Urheilijat.

Edit
Pub: 06 May 2024 07:08 UTC
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