Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker pitcher Owen Kariniemi throws against REL Inc.-Mohawk Technologies in Twilight Baseball League action Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Hancock, Mich. (Eddie O’Neill/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker evened the score on Tuesday with a 4-3 over REL-Mohawk Technologies in Twilight League action.

Both teams had met last week for the league’s season opener with REL winning that one 6-5.

According the Coldwell’s player/coach, Ross Kinnunen the key to this first victory was strong pitching by starter Owen Kariniemi who threw a complete game with an impressive eight strikeouts. Error-free play certainly helped as well.

“Owen threw strikes and we fielded the ball well,” said Coldwell’s player/coach Ross Kinnunen. “Last Thursday we had too many errors, and tonight we cleaned up our defense for the most part. That spells winning baseball. It was fun to get our first “W” on the year.”

The errors on Tuesday came from REL’s first turn in the field. A pass ball and three errors in the opening frame by REL led to a three-run lead for Coldwell after one.

“When you give up three unearned runs in the first that’s tough,” said a frustrated REL player/coach Tyler Loukus. “Errors will kill you every time.”

That is the way the score stayed until the fourth when base hits by REL’s Alan Jurmu and Sam Kariniemi led to two runs. An inning later the boys in blue tied it at three with a lead off walk to Tyler Loukus. He would come around to cross home on a fielder’s choice and a misplay at first base by Coldwell.

Coldwell wasted no time in getting back on top in their half of the fifth. Shortstop Luke Paul started things off with a base hit and Carson Turner knocked him in with a extra-base hit of his own.

REL had men on base in the sixth and the seventh but could not find a way to get them home as Coldwell cinched the 4-3 win.

“We had good pitching from Grant (Johnson), and we hit the ball well,” said Tyler Loukus. “We just need to cut down on the errors, and we will be alright.”

HBS-Stanton 11, Northern Driveline 0

STANTON — Houghton Building Supply-Stanton applied early pressure en route to a season-opening win against Northern Driveline.

HBS-Stanton scored twice in the first, added a run in the second, scored three in the third and five more times in the fifth for the mercy-rule win.

HBS-Stanton had six hits, while Northern Driveline was held to one.

Connor Hannon had two hits at leadoff for HBS-Stanton, and scored twice. Kade Farrell singled and scored twice.