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Hillhouse Is In The Castle |
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| It's become familiar ball diamond chatter across
much of North America and New Zealand. And there is no mistaking who
the tag "Hill" or "House" or "Billy"
is meant for: Bill Hillhouse is on the mound. And the slender, right-hander, just 27 years old, has been on the mound for quite some time. He's trumped his trade in fastpitch softball's most prestigious tournaments, including Salt Lake City's Pioneer Days, the ISC World Tournament, and the Interclub Nationals at Hawkes Bay in New Zealand. Certainly major tourneys in any pitcher's career, but now he's about to engage in what he calls the 'ultimate honor' for an athlete: Representing his country in international competition. Competing against the world's best fastpitch softball teams in the International Softball Federation world championship to be played in New London, South Africa, July 7-15. Bill Hillhouse is a member of the USA Men's national softball team. It's an honor that he treasures. "I don't know if I can accurately describe what the feeling is like," he said. "It's certainly the highest honor in softball, that's for sure. Playing in the ISF world championship is as high as we go in this game." And he yearns to pitch in. Whatever it takes he wants to be a contributing member - the best teammate possible. "I'll do anything to help my team get where we need to be, if it's extra batting practice for someone at 6:00 a.m., so be it." As the youngest of the four-man pitching squad, Hillhouse is being groomed for future world championship play as well. He says that "soaking up every bit of knowledge I can from all three of the other pitchers," (Michael White, Peter Meredith and Doug Middleton) will make him a wiser, stronger hurler. "These guys are three of the most experienced pitchers in the game today. I'm fortunate to be able to play with them and learn from them first hand." But Hillhouse brings something to the table as well. Having played in New Zealand for eight seasons his knowledge of their national team players is extensive. "Perhaps one thing that I bring to the table different than the other pitchers is my knowledge of New Zealand's newer players. I have watched, studied and made notes of certain things," says Hillhouse. "They are things that might come in handy down the road." Ken Hackmeister, ISC President, knows Hillhouse well. "Bill pitched for me on our 18-Under team when he was 17 and 18 years old," said Hackmeister. "He has developed more speed, accuracy and has better movement on his pitches. When Bill has total focus and determination, he can pitch with the best of them. "He's the only pitcher on Team USA under 30. He must use this experience to learn from the veterans," said Hackmeister. "Not just the pitching aspect, but the mental approach, preparation, the total focus required. He is very active in the administrative aspect of the game - which is very admirable for someone his age. But right now he needs to devote 100% of his focus and energies on becoming the best pitcher he can possibly be." Team USA Head Coach, John Becker agrees. "Billy has had the potential for a long time.the kid loves the game and is a true student of the game. He has found the draw bridge and crossed the moat, now it's his chance to see what he can do in the castle." Hillhouse has prepared well for the ISF. He's worked on pitching "legal" - two feet on the rubber, no crow hop - required pitching rules in ISF play. He's hit the weights and bulked up his 6-foot-2 frame to a strong 185. And it's paid off. This past New Zealand season, he was named MVP in the North Harbour Premier League and Super four Trans-Harbour league. And after Hayden Smith was injured, he carried the load, pitching weekend double headers and finished his season by pitching his Northcote club to a third place at the Interclub Nationals in Hawkes Bay. But success is not foreign to Hillhouse. Born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, he got his start by pitching on the sidelines with his brother Hugh at his dad's league games. The two boys never played baseball and began hurling in the men's league as teenagers. Bill pitched his Pottsville Generals to the 18-Under national title in 1986 and Hugh won it in 1985 and '87. His career soon skyrocketed to the men's game. Signed by Seattle Seafirst in 1993, he won the MV Pitcher award in the ISC Norwest regionals and was named to the ISC Norwest travel league All-Star team. He also helped Seafirst to the fabled Perth Shootout championship as well. After his stint with Seafirst, he was back in Salt Lake City. But the 'big clubs', Miller Toyota and later Page Brake beckoned this time. His crowning achievement with Page Brake was being named MV Pitcher in the Pioneer Days Classic in 1999 after derailing Miller Toyota in the finals. In international play, he earned a spot on the USA team at the tender age of 21; his 6-0 record earning him the MV Pitcher award in Monterrey, Mexico (Darren Zack was MV Player). Hillhouse was also a member of the 1994 Olympic Festival Gold medal team. He's certainly no stranger to world caliber competition. However, he's reaching that stage in his career where he must make his move soon to establish himself as a pitcher capable of bringing a world championship to America. "Hopefully he will be an important cog in the future for USA softball," said Becker. "Only he can determine that. You only have potential for so long. Sooner or later if you don't do something with that potential you become a 'could have been'. That time has come for Bill. This could be his defining moment. Bill should be able to suck up a lot of innings for us and will be a great "team" player." And Hillhouse is determined to help Team USA bring home a world championship. And he likes what he sees. "The USA selectors picked a great team both offensively and defensively," he said. "I think all of us (pitchers) know we are going to have a lot of runs to work with. We simply have to limit other team's scoring.walks will kill us. "I certainly like our chances.with so many players considering this their last ISF, perhaps it will add a bit of hunger." When you stroll up to the ball diamond at Rohr Park in Bonita this weekend at Team USA's training camp, and hear players chattering "Hill", "House", or "Billy", you can bet Bill Hillhouse is on the mound. Bob Otto <otto@discover.net> |
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