The Wharton Mortars Softball Tournament Celebrates Teamwork

Colleagues from T-Media, the cybersecurity firm Silverskin, and the marketing data company Supermetrics faced off once again in the annual Wharton Mortars softball tournament. This year, T-Media took home the tournament trophy.

The tournament held in Suomenlinna this summer got off to a spectacular start when a 17th-century cannon boomed on the sandy field of Susisaari. Behind the historic blast was Helsinki’s Wanha Waruswäci, a group of history and black powder shooting enthusiasts.

The Waruswäen group’s shared passion for history, along with the gunshot that followed the command “Blås av lunttan,” drew well-deserved applause from the audience.

The tournament, which has been held in Suomenlinna since 2016, has its roots in a shared work history: Mikael Thuneberg and Mikko Niemelä, the founders of Supermetrics and Silverskin, are former employees of T-Media. T-Media’s extended family is larger than ever: this year saw a record number of tournament participants as company headcounts have grown.

“The leagues have grown so much recently that many of us are already playing on two teams. This year, there are five teams in Suomenlinna,” said Harri Leinikka, CEO of T-Media, with delight.

A sense of fun and amateur spirit are part of the tournament’s atmosphere. However, the participants gave it their all in good spirits, and there were a few minor injuries along the way. Thuneberg, CEO of Supermetrics, unfortunately tore a muscle in the middle of the game:

“That was it. I pushed myself too hard and ran too fast,” Thuneberg said from under the ice pack.

T-Media and Supermetrics faced off in an exciting final. This year, T-Media took home the tournament trophy. The successful tournament was celebrated on Supermetrics’ rooftop terrace in downtown Helsinki.

Text: Tuuli Pohjola
Video: Riku Ruokolahti