When it comes to middle infielders, Columbus had the market cornered this season.
Both the first-team second baseman and shortstop on the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State squad hail from Columbus schools. Columbus East senior Takahiro Yamada is the second baseman, and Columbus North junior Cooper Trinkle is the shortstop.
Yamada batted .449 with 18 RBIs, set a school record with 14 doubles and led the Olympians with 20 runs scored. He is playing in the Indiana North-South All-Star Series today and Sunday in Whiting.
Trinkle batted .416 and led the Bull Dogs with six home runs, 27 RBIs, 32 runs scored and an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.306. He has committed to University of Evansville.
Trinkle is the second North shortstop in as many years to earn 4A first-team All-State honors. Devin Mann, who now plays at Louisville, was last year’s honoree.
Meanwhile, four area seniors have been named to the IHSBCA Academic All-State team. Making the squad were East’s Nick Andrie, North’s Brice McDaniel, Hauser’s Jared Schoen and Trinity Lutheran’s Jacob Schult.
