Walk-Off Home Run from Cerminelli Highlights PaddleHeads' Win
PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Walk-Off Home Run from Cerminelli Highlights PaddleHeads' Win

Published on August 6, 2026 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MT - The Missoula PaddleHeads and Ogden Raptors found themselves in another tight ballgame on Wednesday in Game 2 of a 6-game set. After a late push led Ogden to a win Tuesday, the PaddleHeads looked to turn the tables. Missoula pushed to the lead with a rally in the bottom of the 8th to put themselves in the driver's seat. A wild sequence involving a defensive mistake opened the door for the Raptors after this stretch as Ogden punched back.

This sent the game to the bottom of the 9th with Missoula trailing by one. A rookie infielder proved to be up to the task landing the last punch.

After Nich Klemp reached to start the 9th, the table was set for Bryce Cerminelli representing the winning run in the box. The Missouri State product didn't let this opportunity slip, hitting a towering blast to the train tracks beyond the right field wall. The 2-run blast started a celebration with his teammates at home plate to the joy of the fans at Allegiance Field with Missoula claiming a 9-8 win.

The PaddleHeads grabbed the lead first in the bottom of the 2nd inning during a 3-run push.

Sergio Gutierrez delivered the biggest swing launching a double to the left field wall to bring home a pair of runs. An RBI groundout from TY Yukumoto made the score 3-0. The Missoula offense went quiet for a large portion of the game after this sequence allowing the Raptors to fight back.

Colson Lawrence brought the Ogden bats to life in the top of the 4th with an impressive home run to left. The centerfield's 2-run blast whizzed over the wall in left with an exit velocity of 112 miles per hour cutting the deficit to 3-2. Lawrence was 2-for-4 in his at-bats. The long ball once again played a big role soon after.

Third baseman Gio Ferraro got the wheels turning in the top of the 5th with a game-tying single up the middle. Carmine Lane then put the Raptors in front one batter later with a home run to right en route to a 5-3 advantage. Both offenses then remained quiet till the 8th setting up a wild end game sequence. Lane and Ferraro knocked in 6 runs combined in the game finishing 2-for-4.

The PaddleHeads put together clutch at-bats when they needed them most trailing in the bottom of the 8th. The first to come through was Enzo Apodaca with a 2-run single to knot things up at 5.Gutierrez then flexed his muscles again with his second RBI double of the night to bring home 2 more in a 4-run rally. This put Missoula in front 7-5. Apodaca turned in a 3-for-4 night at the plate in the win. Gutierrez knocked in 4 runs in a 2-for-4 performance. This sequence was only the start of the late inning drama.

Ogden punched back with a defensive mistake playing a role in the 9th. In a bases loaded scenario, Ferraro sent a ground ball toward the second base bag right into the defense. A throw from second base was thrown offline in the scenario however allowing a pair of runs to come home to tie the game. Lane then delivered another blow soon after with an RBI single to right center giving Ogden the lead again at 8-7. The PaddleHeads would throw the last punch however on this night.

Cerminelli's walk-off bomb in the bottom of the 9th was the first walk-off home run from a Missoula player this season. The last PaddleHead to record a walk-off home run was former Pioneer League MVP Adam Fogel in a game on August 3 of last season against the Glacier Range Riders. Missoula will now look to build on the momentum of this win.

Game 3 of this series between the PaddleHeads (38-29), and Raptors (39-29) is scheduled for Thursday night with both teams taking one game apiece in this 6-game set so far. First pitch of the ballgame is set for 6:35 p.m. Head out to the ballpark for 'Thirsty Thursday' and Karaoke night to get an early start on the weekend. You can also catch the live broadcast on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.

Check out the Missoula PaddleHeads Statistics

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Pioneer League Stories from August 6, 2026


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