9th-Inning Rally Highlights PaddleHeads' Win Friday
PL Missoula PaddleHeads

9th-Inning Rally Highlights PaddleHeads' Win Friday

Published on August 22, 2026 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


LONG BEACH, CA - Friday night's game 4 between the Missoula PaddleHeads and Long Beach Coast turned into a ballgame to remember at Blair Field. Missoula landed the first big punch in the top of the 6th in a sizable 2-out rally en route to a 5-run lead. Long Beach countered in the 7th and 8th, scoring 6 unanswered runs to grab the lead themselves going into the 9th inning. A night after pitching set the tone, both teams combined for 32 hits in a battle between playoff contenders. After falling behind late, Missoula stood up to the challenge.

Facing one of the top relievers in the league in Zach Voelker, Missoula's attack went to work in the top of the 9th. Clutch swings from Xavier Casserilla, and Bryce Cerminelli highlighted a 3-run 9th inning rally as the PaddleHeads regained the lead in dramatic fashion. Matthew Taubensee then entered the fray in the home half of the 9th for the 3rd time in this series. The southpaw did not disappoint, tossing his 3rd scoreless inning of the week to help Missoula lay claim to a 12-10 win.

Long Beach was the first to draw blood in the early innings. Shortstop Anothy Mata came through in a 2-out at-bat in the 2nd plating a run with a single to left field. The former Chukar also brought home Benjamin Rosenguard with a sacrifice fly to left in the 4th to add to the lead making the score 3-1. Nich Klemp trimmed this advantage soon after.

The designated hitter launched his 2nd home run of the series in the 4th to cut the Long Beach lead to just 1 run. Cuba Bess answered back for the Coast in the 5th with a solo bomb of his own to right field making the score 4-2. Klemp also played a role in a huge rally that came after this sequence. Bess finished 2-for-5 in his at-bats.

A pair of walks set the table for the PaddleHeads offense in the top of the 6th inning with 2-outs.

Missoula then put together an impressive stretch of success recording 7 consecutive hits in what was a 6-run rally. The first damage done came on a double from Enzo Apodaca off the center field wall to plate a pair to tie the game at 4. Klemp then put Missoula in front for the first time with his 2nd home run of the night. RBI singles from Nate Vargas, and Will Bermudez also did damage in the frame giving Missoula a 9-4 advantage.

Klemp has knocked in runs in 3 straight games in this series finishing 2-for-5 with 3 driven in Friday. The designated hitter has recorded 7 RBIs total in that stretch bringing his total to 112 on the season. Long Beach combatted this effort from Missoula quickly.

A 4-run Coast rally in the 7th inning brought the home team right back into the fight. Bess, and Rosenguard led the charge in the frame on a pair of RBI doubles to highlight Long Beach's success. After an RBI single in the inning from Jacob Jablonski, the Coast trimmed the lead to 9-8. Rosenguard was 4-for-5 in his at-bats in a fabulous night at the dish. Another big swing led Long Beach back in front in the next inning.

On a 2-strike pitch, Matthew Bardowell came up with a huge swing in the bottom of the 8th. The right fielder took a breaking ball over the right field wall to bring the crowd at Blair Field to life on a 2-run homer. This vaulted the Coast in front by a run heading to the top of the 9th. Missoula proved to be unfazed.

Cerminelli started a 3-run rally with a line shot down the left field line to bring home Apocaca to tie the game. Casserilla followed that effort quickly with a rocket into the right center field alley to punctuate Missoula's comeback giving the PaddleHeads a 2-run advantage. 'The X Man' had a huge performance finishing 4-for-6 with a pair of RBIs. Cerminelli chipped in finishing 2-for-5.

Taubensee made sure this effort was not all for not.

The 2nd year pro handled the bottom of the 9th successfully for the 3rd time in this series.

Taubsensee also earned his 2nd save for his efforts in a scoreless half inning to clinch the win.

The North Greenville product has 9 strikeouts in 3 innings of work in this series bringing his total to 71 this season in just 41 '..." innings.

The PaddleHeads (48-33) will look to make it 3 in a row in this series with the Coast (57-25) on Saturday. Action begins at Blair Field with a 4:35 p.m. first pitch. Stay locked in with the live broadcast on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.

Check out the Missoula PaddleHeads Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pioneer League Stories from August 22, 2026


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central