When Scott Hill started playing softball in the early eighties, Hall of Fame honors were the furthest thing from his mind.  Back then it was all about the tasks at hand -winning softball games and tournament championships.

The all-conference high school football, basketball and baseball player brought his well-honed athletic skills and discipline to the game of softball.

"If there are tangible goals to be reached, I'm driven by that," says Hill. "I never dreamed of it being a Hall of Fame thing.

A .600 lifetime hitter who could drive the ball to all fields as well as pop home runs, Hill primarily played left field, as well as some pitcher and catcher.  Over seventeen year USSSA career with the Boyz, Bank of Westmont, Illusions, and Tron Piping, Hill won five state championships and two world titles, as well as a national title in another association.  Along the way, he was named MVP of four events, including two state tournaments, and was all tournament ten times.

"I'm a guy who leads by my actions," Hill says. "I'm always thinking about what it takes to win the game."

"He was the best athlete who ever played for me," said Hill's old coach, John Sturgill. "And I've been around for 33 years."

Sturgill calls Hill a force on both offense and defense, and recalls one state championship game in which Hill made three outstanding outfield catches to single handedly save the game.

"If the game was on the line," Sturgill adds, "and you needed an RBI with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Scott was the guy I wanted at the plate."

In a career filled with trophies and honors, Hill points to two accomplishments as his biggest thrills, and they're both team accomplishments -winning two Masters Over 35 World Championships back-to-back, and the five state championships he's been part of.

Like so many softball players, Hill also enjoyed the time spent with teammates and their families at countless league and tournament games.

In 1994, Hill faced a decision.  Following the birth of his daughter, Ciara, who was born with special needs, he chose to cut back on traveling softball.  

"My daughter's health was more important," Hill says. "(Cutting back) was best for my family."

That didn't stop him from continuing to play at a high level for five more years, though.  In the late nineties, Hill was a fixture on the USSSA Masters scene, as well as an integral part of several top finishing B and C state championships before retiring in 1999.

"It is a great honor," says Hill. "I look at the people who are in there (and) there's times I don't feel I'm at that level.  I'm probably my own worst critic.  (So) it's good to know there's people who think I'm talented."

The Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame has no such doubts about Scott Hill's qualifications, as it welcomes him into it's ranks.