The trend of European ballplayers competing at the collegiate level in the US continues, with a trio of Germans – Noah Lindt, Ladislaus Landwehr, and Moritz Jödicke—having signed letters of intent with community colleges. All three were members of the German national team that went 4-1 and won the bronze medal at last year’s U18 European Championship in Macerata, Italy.
Lindt, who features primarily as a pitcher and plays domestically for the Bonn Capitals, has signed with Vernon Community College (TX). The 2021 German Bundesliga North season was abbreviated because of public health restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, allowing Lindt to throw just six innings (playoffs included) in five appearances for the Capitals last season. He struck out nine and allowed just two hits and one earned run for the club, but added four scoreless innings, striking out five, in two appearances for the German national team at the U18 European Championship, including two shutout innings against the eventual gold medal winners, the Netherlands.
Landwehr, who plays for the Untouchables Paderborn, and Jödicke,who played for the second-division Ratingen Goosenecks in 2021, have both signed with SUNY Erie Community College (N.Y.). Landwehr, an infielder, made just one appearance in Macerata (0-for-1, BB, RBI), as did Jödicke, who tossed one shutout inning of relief in the bronze-medal game against Spain.
Alper Bozkurt, managing director of the Baseball and Softball Federation of North Rhine Westphalia (BSV NRW), where the three players are based, helped connect the athletes with the collegiate programs. In communication with mister-baseball.com, Bozkurt, who is also director of the Untouchables Paderborn academy and former global consultant for the Cincinnati Reds, stated that it “has become a priority for the BSV NRW to get German players into college after high school”.