Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker pitcher Brady Turner throws from the mound in a Twilight League playoff game against Houghton Building Supply-Stanton in Stanton on Tuesday.

STANTON — It is said that the postseason in sports often represents a whole new season where anything can happen. That proved true Tuesday in the Twilight League play-in game between fourth-seeded Houghton Building Supply-Stanton (4-8) and fifth-seeded Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker (3-9).

In short, Coldwell played a complete game and defeated Stanton 5-1. Coldwell player-coach Ross Kinnunen, who had lamented his team’s lack of consistency all season, breathed a sigh of relief.

“We made it”, he said smiling, “and it feels good. We finally got a complete game of hitting and fielding and laid the foundation for Brady (Turner) to pitch well.”

Coldwell’s road to victory began in the first inning when they scored three runs. With the bases loaded, the first run came on a walk-off by Stanton pitcher Eli Louma. A throwing error just one batter later brought in two more runs.

A three-run lead became a five-run lead when Coldwell added two more in the second inning. A double by catcher Eric Anderson scored Chase Kinnunen and Trevor Halonen.

Stanton’s only run came in the second inning when Dax Durocher crossed home on a Brad Juntinnen single. Their next best chance to get back in the game came in the sixth inning. They had all the bases loaded and no outs. However, a pop-up to short and two consecutive strikeouts ended that comeback.

“The game ball goes to our pitcher Brady,” explained Ross. “He threw a gem and we were there to support him.”

Turner managed six strikeouts and four walks in his entire game victory.

Next

The Twilight League championship tournament is this Sunday in Stanton. First place Garnett Garage will face Coldwell at 11 a.m., and No. 2 seed REL-Mohawk Technology will face No. 3 seed Northern Driveline at 1:30 p.m. The winners of those two games will play for the title at 4 p.m.

When asked about another upset in the championship tournament against Garnett, Ross was hesitant but not hopeless.

“Garnet is good”, he said. “They’ve been superior to us all year, but as we saw today, anything can happen in the postseason.”