Reese Hill enjoyed another outstanding year with the Montgomery County softball team last fall, hitting a team-best .519 with five home runs and 21 RBIs, winning 23 games and striking out 241 batters.

But the best part of her junior season was playing in the Class 2 Final Four in Springfield.

Hill helped the Wildcats reach the Final Four for the first time in program history. She pitched both games against South Harrison and Mid-Buchanan at the state event at Meador Park in Springfield.

“There was nothing like it,” Hill said. “You really do have to take it all in because you never know if you’ll be back, especially with all of your best friends. Like I had Dylan (Topel) and Gracie (Cobb) back last year. They’re my best friends, so it’s nice having everybody there to support you all of the time.”

Now, Hill is hoping to end her already brilliant high school softball career with another trip to Springfield. She is one of eight returning players from the 2025 team.

“I think we should win conference flat out this year,” Hill said. “I definitely think we have a shot to win districts and it will be cool to do that. I really hope that we can get that done in my senior year.”

Hill’s senior year got off to a flying start at the MCHS Fall Classic, which was played on Aug. 29 at Kiwanis Fields. She helped the Wildcats win the tournament for the second year in a row as MCHS defeated Russellville 4-2 in the finals.

Hill said she was thrilled to begin her senior year by being part of a championship team.

“It definitely means a lot, especially for me, Jillian (Weekley) and Sam (Turner)because it’s our senior year,” Hill said. “It’s good for all of these young girls to experience this too. We definitely have a big year coming from the Final Four to now, so we have a lot on our shoulders. But I definitely think that this team can make it back there.”

The Jacksonville State-bound pitcher/shortstop picked up the complete-game win in the circle against Russellville. She struck out 14 and gave up five hits. At the plate, she drew seven walks and had two hits in the tournament.

In the championship game, Hill retired the first 10 batters before giving up a hit. She started showing some signs of fatigue in the top of the sixth, when she gave up two runs.

“I was definitely tired,” Hill said.

Hill got out of a bases-loaded threat in the top of the seventh by striking out Karsyn Duncan and fielding a groundout by Cori Stewart to end the game.
Last year, Hill became the first MCHS player to be named on the all-state team three times. She was chosen first-team pitcher. She recorded double-digits in strikeouts 11 times and pitched one-hit shutouts against Bowling Green, Clopton and Van-Far.

Hill helped the Wildcats turn in their best season in program history in 2025. In addition to its trip to the Final Four, MCHS won a program-record 28 games, shared the Eastern Missouri Conference title with Elsberry and North Callaway and captured its first district title since 2018.

Hill has been a valuable member for the MCHS softball program since her first game on Aug. 29, 2023. Going into this season, Hill had .535 (158 hits-295 at-bats) career batting average. She has 607 career strikeouts and is one of three MCHS pitchers (the others are Brooklynn Fischer and Corryn Hill) who surpassed the 500-strikeout mark.

“I have to give credit to all of my people around me,” Hill said. “I grew up watching my sister, Corrin, my whole life. She made me kind of who I am. She made me want to be better. My teammates around me and all of my coaches growing up pushed me to be the best that I could because they knew I was good.”