Palmer throws no-hitter to lead Bulldogs over Toppers

By Cara L. Dempski

BOYCEVILLE — When the game was finished and the statistics were compiled and recorded in the scorer’s book, there were an awful lot of zeroes following James Palmers’ name on the pitching line.

The Bulldogs’ senior pitcher was careful and methodical in his pitching approach in a May 18 home contest against rival Glenwood City, and head coach Michael Roemhild said the rest of the team picked up on what has happening in the seventh inning, and seemed to want to give their outgoing player a perfect game.

“Our guys knew what was in the making, so in the seventh, they were all thinking ‘let’s get these last three to give James a perfect game,’” Roemhild explained. “It didn’t happen, but I am proud of how we played behind him.”

Palmer retired 21 of the 22 batters he faced, a  fielding error with one out in the seventh inning  allowed Glenwood City’s lone batter to reach base.

Palmer, however got the next two Toppers to ground out including the final one back to him on the mound, to record the complete game no-hitter in last Thursday’s interdivision game played at Evenson Field.

Palmer did not allow a walk and finished with 11 strike outs to lead the Bulldogs to a 3-0 win.

The pitching was strong on both sides as Glenwood City used a pair of pitchers that allowed Boyceville just three hits. Jake Kopacz started on the mound for Glenwood City and went five innings surrendering all three Bulldogs hits and a run on four walks and three strike outs. Bryce Fayerweather threw an inning and despite no hits was dinged for two runs.

The Toppers committed four errors in the game.

Boyceville is currently 6-7 in the large D-SC and 7-10 overall while Glenwood City is without a win on the season.

Glenwood City was able to keep the Bulldogs contained until the fourth inning, when junior Jayson Gonzales singled and scored on a  ground out to give Boyceville a 1-0 lead.

The Toppers held the Boyceville boys in place again through the fifth inning, but then Micadin Kahl and Jaden Reisimer made it all the way home to lift the Bulldogs to a 3-0 lead.

Kahl walked and Reisimer reached on a fielder’s choice. Palmer was then walked to load the bases.

Palmer was then hit by a Fayerweather pitch that brought Kahl home with the Bulldogs second run. Reisimer scored on Cooper Boesl’s ground out to first for the Boyceville third and final score.

Knudtson, Bryce Boda and Cooper Boesl were responsible for the team’s three runs batted in, while Boesl, Gonzales and Holden accounted for the team’s only three hits.

The Toppers walked Kahl twice, and Palmer, Knudtson, Boesl and Gonzales once each. Reisimer struck out looking in the fourth, Sempf  was caught looking in the second, and Boda struck out swinging in both the second and the sixth.

Palmer tossed 83 pitches for zero hits, runs or walks, while striking out 11 for a .699 strike percentage.

GLENWOOD CITY 0, BOYCEVILLE 3
Glenwood City……….0  0  0  0  0  0  0 — 0
Boyceville……………..0  0  0  1  0  2  0 — 3