Konsta Saarilehto and Luka Raesmaa will join the orange shirts for the anniversary year. The signings mean that the final pieces have fallen into place and the team lineup is now ready to challenge for promotion. Both players were raised by Helsingin Roihu as their breeder club and broke into Superpesis with 1 or 2 games in 2020; however became regulars in their team’s lineups last year as a series of injuries and a condensed playing schedule finally gave them a chance to show off their talents at the highest level.

 Saarilehto, who turns 20 in August this year, joins Hamina from Joensuun Maila on a 2 year contract. Saarilehto played in 13 Superpesis games last season as well as 11 games for Ykköspesis side Puijon Pesis. Saarilehto’s usual fielding position is as a third baseman; however he has also been used as a running joker. In JoMa’s win against Kankaanpää in august last year he was awarded as being the best player on JoMa’s lineup, beating the likes of Patrik Wahlsten and Aleksi Rautiainen. Joensuu were so impressed with Saarilehto’s performance during the season that he made 4 appearances in their nail biting 5 game series against Sotkamo in the first round of the playoffs.

Raesmaa (20 years old) played 16 games for Tahko’s superpesis team in 2021, either as a joker or outfielder. Like Saarilehto, Raesmaa also had experience in Ykköspesis last year, playing for Loimaa in 5 games. At bat, Raesmaa’s speed means that he has great potential to score runs, something that will add more depth to Hamina this season. The signing also gives the orange shirts a solid outfielder, as he has comfortably patrolled Pihkala’s large outfield during his playing career.

The signings add strength to Hamina’s lineup that has gone through a number of changes since being relegated last year. The addition of these two young stars surely establishes the team as one of the favourites to earn promotion at the end of the season.

“The men’s team for the coming season is now ready. We have got two hard class reinforcements to the team. We are moving with confidence towards the coming summer.”

Marko Hovi - the club’s executive director