By STEVE KRAH
Landon Godsey enjoyed a breakout season in his second year of junior college baseball.
The next step for the 20-year-old Indianapolis native will be NCAA Division I.
Godsey, a 2021 graduate of Southport High School, played 55 games (51 starts) for Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tenn., in the spring of 2023. The righty swinger hit .368 (68-of-185) with eight home runs, 15 doubles, 46 runs batted in, 43 runs scored and five stolen bases.
The 6-foot, 189-pounder with years of remaining eligibility is bound for Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Castle High School graduate Brodey Heaton and Heritage alum Dalton Wasson played there this spring.
Because of the Pioneers head coach Jim McGuire’s needs at VSCC, Godsey played all but one game this spring at first base and just one at catcher. He says he may be used in the outfield at Belmont, where Dave Jarvis guides the Missouri Valley Conference-member Bruins.
“I love him,” says Godsey of McGuire. “He’s a great coach and a great person. He knows his baseball.”
As a Volunteer State freshman in 2022, Godsey was in 17 games and hit .366 (15-of-41) with two homers, four doubles, 11 RBIs and 19 runs. The Pioneers won 59 games over the past two seasons.
Godsey was in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. in back-to-back years — 2021 with the Moon Shots and 2022 with the Turf Monsters.
In 2023, he is playing catcher and first base for the Prospect League’s Cape Catfish in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Scott Little is the manager.
At Southport, Phil Webster was Godsey’s head coach. He credits the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer for teaching him how to think like a pitcher — which helped when he was on the mound or behind the plate.
No matter his position, Godsey has the same point of emphasis on defense.
“I just focus in on one pitch at a time, don’t look too far ahead and just worry about what’s going on in the present,” says Godsey. At first base, I look at the hitter and see if he’s going to pull the ball or stay down the middle.”
In the batter’s box, Godsey keeps it simple.
“I try not to over-think things,” says Godsey. “I get in there and see-ball, hit-ball.
“I started using that approach in college. That’s worked out good for me.”
Godsey likes to follow some Major League Baseball players. One of them is Mookie Betts.
“(I appreciate) the way he carries himself,” says Godsey. “He’s not a head case either.”
Born in Indianapolis in 2002, Godsey grew up around Southport.
He played at what is now Edgewood Athletic Association then went into travel ball. He two stints with Indiana Elite and represented the Center Grove Trojans. His last travel team was the Mike Farrell-coached 17U Indiana Mustangs.
After earning an associate degree at Volunteer State, Godsey says he intends to major in Sport Administration at Belmont. He is also considering an Education minor.
Landon’s parents — Paul and Suzanne — were both college athletes. Paul Godsey played baseball at Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky., and is now a vice president of credit services. Suzanne Godsey was in cross country, basketball and softball and Midway (Ky.) University and is now an account.
“I look up to my parents,” says Landon. “Their experiences in the past really help me.”
Brother Nick Godsey (Southport Class of 2025) plays basketball and baseball.
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