Elk Grove, CA : Former Cosumnes Oaks baseball player dies in car crash on Thursday, 15th September 2016

A graduate of Cosumnes Oaks High School, on his way to weight training at Folsom Lake College died in a car accident early Thursday on a two-lane road just south of Highway 50.
The Sacramento County Coroner’s office identified the victim as 19-year-old Donovan Palma, a left-handed pitcher for the Wolfpack who graduated in 2015 and was preparing to play this year at Folsom Lake College.
“He was the greatest kid on the field, off the field, great teammate, respectful of parents, respectful of coaches, you never had to worry about that kid,” Cosumnes Oaks current varsity head coach Mark Gwerder recalled. Gwerder was a varsity assistant coach in the years Palma played for the Wolfpack.
“I was lucky enough to coach him when he was ten in tournament ball,” Gwerder continued. “I was pretty familiar with him and his family. Excellent student in the classroom.”
Gwerder said during fall ball practice Thursday three Cosumnes Oaks faculty members came to the field to comfort him and the players.
“They told me how sorry they were to hear about this,” he said. “They talked about how good of a kid, that he touched their lives.”
Word of the accident reached Folsom Police at 5:09 a.m. Thursday and crews went to the scene on Scott Road, according to police spokesman Sgt. Andrew Bates. He said Palma was driving a blue Kia northbound on Scott Road when he crossed into the oncoming lane, clipped another car and crashed head-on into a pickup.
The driver of the car was not injured and the road was closed for much of Thursday morning.
On the mound, Palma had a terrific junior season, going 10-1 with a 1.19 ERA. His only loss came in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs’ deciding game against Manteca.
“He was just lights out, “ Gwerder recalled. “Whenever there was a big game he wanted the ball, ice water in the veins, was never afraid of the pressure. If you want a kid to model your program after; hard work, a good teammate.”
His senior season at Cosumnes Oaks Palma was 5-3 with a 4.03 ERA, leading the team with 10 appearances and four complete games. He struck out 54 batters in 48.2 innings. Palma had redshirted last season and was looking forward to playing at Folsom Lake College this season.Gwerder said he knows of at least three of Palma’s former high school teammates coming home from out of state this weekend to comfort the family.

“That just goes to show you the kind of kid he is,” he said.

Source :
Former Cosumnes Oaks baseball player dies in car crash