The Montgomery County softball team had a pair of reasons to celebrate when the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association all-state team was released on Nov. 13.

Junior Aliviah Fischer and freshman Reese Hill were selected as the Wildcats’ representatives on the Class 2 MOHSFCA all-state team, which had a total of 39 players. Fischer earned first-team infielder honors, while Hill was named second-team at-large player, making it the first time in program history that the Wildcats had two players earn all-state honors in the same year.

Fischer and Hill turned in strong offensive seasons as both of them hit over .500 and combined for 12 home runs. Fischer was an outstanding defensive player at third base as she made just three errors, while Hill enjoyed a banner season on the mound with 12 wins and 114 strikeouts.

Fischer and Hill joined a group of MCHS all-state players that included Brooklynn Fischer (2021), Anna Ford (2016) and Beth Johnson (2001). Brooklynn is Aliviah’s oldest sister and is now playing softball at Missouri Baptist University.

“I am proud of Aliviah and Reese for earning all-state honors because they put a lot of time and effort into becoming great softball players,” MCHS coach Audra Heimer said. “Both of these girls work extremely hard and their efforts have paid off.”

Fischer and Hill also were named to the all-Eastern Missouri Conference, all-district and all-region teams. They helped the Wildcats win a school-record 18 games.

Fischer, who was one of 13 juniors named to this year’s all-state team, wrapped up her third season with the Wildcats. She now has a .480 (118 for 246) career batting average with 12 home runs.

Fischer played all 26 games and hit .535 with six home runs, 37 RBIs, 34 runs scored and a .953 slugging percentage.

Fischer got off to a strong start, hitting safely in her first eight games. She belted a three-run homer in the Wildcats’ 6-3 loss to Silex in their home opener on Aug. 31. Fischer later went on a 14-game hitting streak that included a four-hit game against Van-Far on Sept. 19. She hit two home runs against Wright City on Sept. 7 and had four-RBI games against Mark Twain and Louisiana.

Defensively, Fischer finished with a .948 fielding percentage. She didn’t commit an error for 21 straight games until the top of the sixth against Louisiana in a Class 2, District 4 semifinal game on Oct. 16.

Fischer is one of four players to earn first-team all-state honors. The others were Brooklynn Fischer, Ford and Johnson.

“Aliviah is very deserving of first-team all-state because she is one of the top softball players in the state,” Heimer said. “Her hitting stats speak for themselves. I’m really excited to have her back next season.”

Hill hit .527 with six home runs, 36 RBIs, 12 doubles and .923 slugging percentage. She ended her freshman season with a 19-game hitting streak that began at the Elsberry Tournament on Sept. 9. During that streak, she batted .582 (39 for 67) with five home runs, including a home run in a 9-8 victory over North Callaway on Sept. 21. Hill also had four-hit games against Louisiana and Owensville and four-RBI games against Van-Far and South Callaway.

On the mound, Hill had a season-high 12-strikeout performance against LaPlata in the LaPlata Tournament on Sept. 30. She also pitched a 2-0, complete-game victory over Community R-6 on Oct. 2.

“Reese is a very versatile player,” Heimer said. “Earning second-team all-state as a freshman is a huge accomplishment.”

Three other EMO players earned all-state honors. They were Megan Graver of Bowling Green and Mya Pflasterer and Kenzie Koch of Elsberry.