Marble Falls Faith Academy’s Mottle signs to play college baseball

Faith Academy of Marble Falls senior Justin Mottle proved that he was right on time in signing his National Letter of Intent May 12 to play baseball for East Texas Baptist University, which is a member of the American Southwest Conference.

Mottle will play in the outfield. But it wasn’t until about two months ago that he decided he wanted to play college baseball even though Faith Academy head coach Zakk Revelle and Austin Boom and Revolution Baseball coach Buck Turnidge, Mottle’s select team, told the player he had the talent for the next level.

“Justin didn’t follow my road map,” Turnidge said. “It’s a one-to-two-year process to get recruited. He texted me four weeks ago I think saying ‘I want to play college baseball.’ I said, ‘You’re too late. But if that’s what you want, you’re going to have to be aggressive.'”

Mottle listed the qualities of what he wanted in a program, campus life, if the university offered what he wanted to major in, and other aspects and began reaching out to different programs. East Texas Baptist University was one.

“He had an idea, and he understood what he was looking for. He was a realist as far as expectations were concerned,” Turnidge said. “It’s been an amazing process with an amazing family and an amazing kid. I couldn’t be prouder. He always had the skills, but he lacked the confidence. I’ve watched his confidence get to where it has.”

Revelle said East Texas Baptist University was one place he thought was a fit for Mottle, so he reached out to its coaches, too. Then the coaches contacted Mottle and invited him to Marshall for a visit.

“He fell in love with the place,” Revelle said. “He loved it, and I was so excited. He got the opportunity. We’re very happy for him.”

Mottle experienced a life-changing event — the parents of his best friend died in a car accident — that made him examine his own choices and what he wants. And he realized he wanted to be a college athlete.

“I didn’t want to regret (not playing college baseball),” he said. “You never know when you’re going to have your last chance to do something.”

Mottle chose East Texas Baptist University because it reminded him of the people at Faith Academy.

“It’s like Faith Academy on steroids,” he said. “They have chapel twice a week, it’s very faith centered. Everyone there is trying to help you meet your goals. It’s not too far away, I wanted to stay in state, it’s five hours away, which makes it a perfect distance from home. The coaches are great, the program won their first conference championship in history, and I wanted to be apart of it.”

The son of Kevin and Connie Mottle will be a communications major with the aim of going into sports marketing.

At Faith Academy during the 2021-22 school year, Mottle was part of three undefeated district championships — in football, boys basketball and baseball — but the trophies weren’t his favorite part of playing, he said.

“It was all the guys coming together as one to have fun,” he said. “Making history with your friends is fun. You bond and have a family and become one. It’s more about the environment.”

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