Kyle Mottice, INF, Jackson HS, Class of 2014

PBR: Why did you choose Cincinnati?

Mottice: They have a great coaching staff along with excellent facilities as well as being a good academic school.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?

Mottice: I considered Morehead State, Akron, and also Malone and Wooster for both baseball and basketball. 

 PBR:  Coach Neal was just recently hired as the new coach at UC.  How does it feel to be a part of his first recruiting class? 

Mottice:  It feels great knowing that Coach Neal thought enough of me to be part of his first recruiting class.

PBR:  Coach Neal was a big part of the success at why Indiana went to the College World Series.  How quickly do you think that success can transfer to Bearcat baseball?

Mottice: I think that the success he had there can transfer very quickly because he has a high baseball IQ and knows how to build a winning program and has proven that with what he was able to do at Indiana. 

PBR:  Where did the Coach Neal first see you compete and how did your relationship develop with the rest of the coaching staff?

Mottice: He first saw me play in the state semi-final game against Cincinnati Moeller, I talked to him after that game and then after the championship and he had me down for a visit where I met their infield coach, Coach Lackaff.

PBR: Your high school team just won the Division 1 State Championship.  How does it feel to end your high school career as the best in the state?

Mottice:  It's huge for all of us seniors and it's huge for our program to make its first final four and win its first state championship. We knew we could do it, but to actually go out there and win it all is an unbelievable feeling.

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most exciting experience playing summer ball?

Mottice:  I played for our high school (Jackson) summer team throughout my high school career since I didn't have much time for traveling with high school basketball taking up most of my time in June. My favorite memory was probably this past year when we made it to the final four of the 18U CABA World Series with just our local summer ball team.

PBR: What were your stats last season for Jackson?

Mottice: I batted .488, with 15 SB, 16 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher you have faced in Ohio?

Mottice:  Eli Kraus (Kent State commit)