The Journal-News

2019 A Special Year For Hillsboro

This year was the year for the Hillsboro High School softball program. With a line-up full of hitters, anchored by a strong senior core, the Hiltoppers were looking to score their first regional … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/20/19

Center & Guard: Tosetti, Gregg Were Triple Threats In 2019

In a time where more and more kids are specializing in just one sport, it's hard to find athletes who spread their talents through all three high school sports seasons. While there are still those … more

6/20/19

With the sign honoring the late Terry Todt in the background, Hillsboro's Blayze Horn prepares to clear a ball out of the Gray team's zone during the fifth annual Grace Cup on Saturday, June 8. Saturday's game was dedicated to Todt, who was integral in the development of the Grace Cup and soccer in the area.

5th Grace Cup Nothing Short Of Amazing

Forty-eight young players from the Class of 2019, hailing from 15 different schools, competed in this year's Grace Cup boys and girls soccer games at Terry Todt/RHSA Field in Raymond on Saturday, … more

6/13/19

After four stellar years in goal for the Hillsboro High School girls soccer team, Abbi Jett made her college plans known on May 17, as she signed to play soccer for MacMurray College in Jacksonville. Pictured with Jett are her parents, Judy and Dallas.

Road To Recovery Was Path To MacMurray For Jett

In a way, Abbi Jett's high school career has been about recovery. When the 2019 Hillsboro grad entered the girls soccer program in 2016, the Toppers were fresh off a 1-17 season in which they had … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/13/19

Aubry Rupert, Kylie Meier, Jade Scroggins, Claire Tester and Sheridan Lyerla threw out a ceremonial first pitch at the Springfield Sliders game on Tuesday, June 4, in honor of their fourth place finish at the IHSA Class 2A Girls Basketball State Finals this year. Catching the first pitches were Colten Schild (#4), Nate DeYoung (#31), Jack Rigoni (#8), Alex Ludwick (#7) and Brendan Ryan (#12).

Lady Hiltoppers Honored At Springfield Sliders Game

The last time the Hillsboro girls basketball team was altogether on the same playing field, they were celebrating a fourth place finish at the IHSA Class 2A Girls Basketball State Finals. On … more

6/6/19

Softball All-Conference List Loaded With Toppers, Panthers

Montgomery County players made up a quarter of the selections on this year's 40-player South Central Conference all-conference team, which was voted on by the coaches of the SCC. Hillsboro, who … more

6/3/19

Hiltoppers, Panthers Land Seven For Baseball

Five players from Hillsboro and two from Litchfield were among the 41 selected by the South Central Conference Coaches for this year's all-conference baseball teams. Hillsboro, who finished fourth … more

6/3/19

County Soccer Scores Nine All-SCC Honorees

Montgomery County Players took nine of the 36 all-conference spots in this year's South Central Conference all-conference teams, which were recently voted on by the coaches of the SCC. Hillsboro … more

6/3/19

Hillsboro High School's Lady Toppers kicked off the summer with a basketball camp Wednesday, May 28 through Friday, May 30. Members of the high school basketball team, along with coach Bret Tuetken, welcomed elementary school aged girls to the three day camp, which focused on the fundamentals of basketball. The camp introduced the young children to the game and worked on teaching skills that were tailored to the varying age levels of the attendees. At the end of the camp, each of the attendees received a new basketball that they could have signed by the high school players. Pictured above are the basketball camp attendees and their student coaches.

Springfield Sliders To Honor Lady Toppers Tuesday Night

In celebration of their remarkable season and fourth place finish at the IHSA state basketball tournament, the Springfield Sliders baseball team will honor the Lady Hiltoppers during a home game this … more

6/3/19

Hillsboro senior Sheridan Lyerla connects with a Kylie Nation offering during the Toppers' 5-2 sectional semifinal win over Pleasant Plains on Thursday, May 23, in Litchfield.

Toppers Takes Out Plains With Major Home Runs

In the regional championship, it was a bunt that was the difference maker. In the sectional semifinal, it was a blast. Or two of them to be exact as the Hillsboro softball team picked up a 5-2 … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/28/19

Hillsboro Coach Bret Tuetken talks things over with his battery and infield during the Toppers' sectional championship game against Southwestern on Saturday, May 25, in Litchfield. Hillsboro would see their season come to an end against the Piasa Birds, who won 10-0 in five innings.

Birds End Toppers Season At Sectional

Softball, more than almost any other sport, is a momentum game. On Saturday, all of that momentum belonged to Southwestern as they defeated Hillsboro 10-0 in five innings to win the Litchfield … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/28/19

Nine members of the Hillsboro Junior High track team competed at the IESA State Track Meet on May 17-18, at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria. State qualifiers, from the left, are Tanner Clayton, Alex Frailey, Sami Page, Sophia Blankenship, Jolie Churchwell, McKenna Carter, Sierra Compton, Isabella White and Mitchell Lowe.

Dragons Go Five-For-Five At State

Five members of the Hillsboro Junior High track team came home with fifth place medals from the IESA Class 2A State Track Meet on Saturday, May 18, as the Dragons were well represented in East … more

5/23/19

Rain Pushes Lady Toppers To Thursday

Wet weather yielded the softball field at Litchfield High School unplayable on Tuesday, May 21, which meant that everything was pushed back a day at the IHSA Class 2A Litchfield Sectional. Instead … more

5/23/19

Hillsboro Baseball Tops .500 In Rain Soaked Season

Despite their youth the 2019 baseball Hillsboro Toppers topped the .500 mark, both for the regular season (12-11) and the South Central Conference (5-4) for the first time since 2011 when they … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/23/19

Hillsboro's Shelby Houchlei (left) and Haley Major celebrate after Major's two-out bunt drove in the winning run in the eighth inning of the Lady Hiltoppers' 2-1 win over Gillespie, which secured Hillsboro's first regional championship since 2006.

Small Ball Comes Up Big For Toppers

For a team with 21 home runs this season, it might be a little odd to have to rely on the little things to pick up a victory, but the Hillsboro Lady Hiltoppers showed they are just as adept at small … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/20/19

Hillsboro senior Kyra Huber finished off a spectacular career with a trip to state on Friday, May 17, as she competed in the 100 meter dash for the fourth time on her sport's biggest stage. Huber, who holds four school records in the sprints and sprint relays, will run track for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh next year.

One Chapter Closes, One Opens For HHS Track

Arguably the best sprinter in the history of the Hillsboro High School girls track program ended her prep career on Friday, May 17, as senior Kyra Huber capped off a remarkable four-year career with … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/20/19

Hillsboro Boys Compete At Lanphier Sectional

The Hillsboro High School boys track team faced off against some of the best athletes from the Springfield area and the Metro-East on Friday, May 17, at the IHSA Class 2A Lanphier Sectional. The … more

5/20/19

Tennis Toppers Compete At Sectional

Both Brayden Bolyard and Joe Mattson would advance to the quarterfinals of the IHSA Class 1A Rochester Tennis Sectional on Friday, May 17, before bowing out to bring their season to a … more

5/20/19

Tanner Mullen drew the starting assignment for the Hillsboro baseball team on Thursday, May 16, as the Toppers started the postseason against Greenville. Playing on their home field, the Comets knocked off the Toppers 13-5, ending Hillsboro's season with a 12-11 mark. Greenville would go on to fall to Teutopolis in the regional championship on Saturday, May 18, by an 11-1 final score.

Comets Bring Toppers Season To A Close

Events didn't go as Hillsboro hoped in the semifinals of the Greenville Baseball Regional Thursday afternoon, May 16, as the host Comets defeated the Toppers 13-5. As a reward, the Comets faced … more

by Ron Deabenderfer | 5/20/19

Hillsboro High School senior Kai Hanner struck out 13 batters in the Lady Hiltoppers' 10-0 six-inning win over Carlinville on Tuesday, May 14, which put Hillsboro in the regional championship game for the fourth straight year. Hanner, who will continue her education and softball career at St. Louis University, went over the 800 strikeout mark for her career in the win.

Hanner Gets 800th Strikeout In Regional Win

This year has already been the most successful season in the history of Hillsboro High School softball, in terms of total wins, but on Tuesday, May 14, the Lady Hiltoppers took the next step in … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/16/19