Grafton, WI – The Lakeshore Chinooks have added four infielders to the 2018 roster with the signing of Web Charles (Youngstown State), Connor Christman (Butler), Max Schuemann (Eastern Michigan), and Taki Yamada (Dayton).
In his three seasons with the Youngstown State Penguins, Web Charles from Reno, NV has played all over the infield in 99 career games. With experience at both second base and shortstop, this season has played mostly at third base. His versatility in the field will be vital during the opening weeks of the season as the roster settles. While battling at the plate this year in his junior season, Charles has a career batting average of .238 and knocked in 21 RBI, scored 36 times, and stolen 16 bases.
Connor Christman is playing in his second season for the Butler Bulldogs as a utility player who can play first base, third base, or catcher. The sophomore from Noblesville, IN is currently hitting .200 with a .423 on-base percentage for the 18-8 Bulldogs as they enter Big East play.
Max Schuemann had a breakout weekend for Eastern Michigan in the 2017 MAC Conference Tournament when he hit a tournament-best .556, including a tournament-high 10 hits, nine RBIs, and 18 total bases. The junior infielder from Portage, MI has been surging ever since as EMU’s starting shortstop this season with a .371 batting average, .543 slugging percentage, and .435 on-base percentage. He also shows exceptional speed on the base paths with 15 stolen bases on 18 attempts. With experience at second and third, Schuemann will be on the radar screen of professional scouts throughout the season.
A native of Nagoya, Japan, Takahiro Yamada graduated from Columbus East High School in Columbus, IN and has settled in during his sophomore season with the Dayton Flyers at third base and as a key contributor in the Flyer lineup. After playing 35 games, mostly at second base as a freshmen, Yamada is currently hitting .291 in 25 starts at third base and leads the team with a .374 on-base percentage and is second with three home runs.
The 2018 season is presented by Port Washington State Bank with the home opener set for June 1st at 6:35pm against the Kenosha Kingfish. Season and group tickets are currently on sale with single game tickets available for purchase starting April 28th at Gill’s Grill Out in Thiensville at Port Washington State Bank.
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 185 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.
