WIAC/Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week
MENOMONIE (May 11, 2021) - One did not allow a hit, the other slashed 14 hits over six games last week. UW-Stout pitcher
James Palmer and Blue Devil shortstop
Charlie Szykowny were selected as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC)/Kwik Trip Baseball Athletes of the Week after the Blue Devils went 4-0 in conference play and 5-1 on the week.
Palmer, a Boyceville native, pitched Stout's first no-hitter since 2009, the program's first complete game no-hitter since 1997 and the Blue Devils' first-ever nine-inning no-hitter in an 8-0 win over UW-Platteville, May 4, in Menomonie. The lefty threw a nine-strikeout, nine inning 8-0 win over UW-Platteville on May 4. Palmer allowed five walks, but consistently worked his way out of trouble throughout the game. He faced three batters in the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings, allowing only one runner as far as second base.
Palmer walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth, struck out the next batter, then forced two consecutive ground-outs to shortstop to end the game. For the season, Palmer is 5-3 overall, with an ERA of 2.25. He has 57 strikeouts in 56.0 innings pitched and is allowing an opponent's batting average of .175. This was Palmer's second athlete of the week honors, earning the award during the first week of the season in March.
Szykowny, a Palos Heights, Ill., native, hit .500 (14-28) scoring 10 runs and driving in seven runs. He rapped out nine doubles on the week, a move that gave him the school single season record for doubles with 19, recording three in the first game on May 7, and had two doubles in each of three other games. Szykowny had one stolen base in one attempt, but that stolen base set up the game-winning run. With the score tied 8-8 with UW-Platteville on May 8, Szykowny hit a one-out double, stole third, then ended the game when he came home on a wild pitch.
Szykowny had at least two hits in each of the six games during the week and has this year reached base in 34 consecutive games and extended his on-base streak to 41 games, stretching back to the 2019 season, his first with the Blue Devils.
Szykowny was perfect in the field this week in 33 chances and turned three double plays. On the season, Szykowny is batting .394 (54-137), with 45 runs scored and 24 RBI.
The Blue Devils close regular season play this week when they host Finlandia University, Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15. The WIAC Baseball Championship, presented by Culver's, opens Wednesday, May 19.
