Freshman RHP Pat Connaughton (Blue) and sophomore RHP Donnie Hissa (Gold) will take the mound in the series opener.
AT NOTRE DAME: Has played in nine career games without a start at Notre Dame ... batted .111 (1-for-9) with a double and run scored ... added a walk and hit by pitch ... will serve as the Irish bullpen catcher in 2012 ... a hard worker and solid receiver of the ball who will help play important role in the daily preparation of the Notre Dame pitching staff ... walk-on that earned a spot with the program with a solid fall in `10.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2011): Played in nine games without a start ... saw exclusive action as a late-inning pinch hitter ... batted .111 (1-for-9) with a run scored, double, walk and hit by pitch ... batted .143 (1-for-7) as a pinch hitter ... smoked a double in first career Notre Dame at bat on Mar. 5 at Winthrop ... added a run scored in the loss to the Eagles.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2010): Did not participate in baseball.
PREP & PERSONAL: Lettered three years in baseball for head coach Tim Lyons ... versatile athlete also earned one letter in basketball ... as a senior, named all-Chicago Catholic League and all-area ... captured the Brother Rice H.S. Student-Athlete of the Year ... served as team captain ... honored with Coach Cliff Petrak Award - Best Defensive Performer... batted .398 with eight doubles, three home runs and 26 RBI ... also registered a .520 on-base percentage and .571 slugging percentage ... did not commit an error all season and threw out 13 of 23 base stealers ... helped Brother Rice H.S. to a school-record 27 consecutive victories, a conference title and a school record 31-3 overall record ... as a junior, helped Brother Rice H.S. to the Illinois High School Association state title game (runner-up) ... batted .388 with four doubles and four home runs ... owns a pair of single-game school records, including five hits and three doubles (vs. Marian in 2009) ... member of the National Honor Society and Modern Language Society ... named a Illinois State Scholar and National Merit Scholarship nominee ... graduated fourth in his Brother Rice H.S. senior class ... six-time superior honor roll and two-time high honor roll selection ... runner-up for 2009 Crusader of the Year award ... born February 28, 1991, in Orland Park, Ill. ... son of Rick and Priscilla Palmer ... has two sisters; Lauren and Jenna ... full name is Richard Dale Palmer III ... enrolled in First Year of Studies.
