An inspiring true story of faith, family and perseverance, The Hill successfully merges the faith-based film with the baseball movie to create an inspirational sports drama told with heart and soul.

“When the good Lord shuts a door, he opens a window.”

Many obstacles were placed in the path of former baseball prodigy Rickey Hill. The son of a Baptist preacher, Rickey was raised in a home poor in money yet rich in love and faith. Strong too was Rickey’s love for baseball, and when it came to handling the bat, God blessed Rickey with a swing that clapped like thunder and saw baseballs soaring to Heaven itself.

Yet with such a gift came a humbling series of crippling injuries, including a spine equal to that of a 60-yer-old man. What could never be broken was Rickey’s dream to play professional baseball, no matter the suffering he had to endure.   

Rickey’s story of trial and tribulation is perfect fodder for a movie, and true to form if would take a 12-year struggle to get The Hill to the big screen. With assured direction by Jeff Celentano (Glass Jaw), and the expert writing of Rudy and Hoosiers scribe Angelo Pizzo, along with the late Scott Marshall Smith (Men of Honour), The Hill is a homerun of a faith-based baseball movie.

The melding of faith and baseball in the movies has been done before in numerous Pure Flix-style releases and even the Disney made biopic The Rookie, and it is easy to see why with “America’s great past time” offering all kinds of symbology to Christianity. There is even a scene in The Hill where Rickey draws the crucifix within a baseball diamond.

The Hill is one of the best examples of how these two sacred American institutions can blend so well in a movie, with every frame filled with a strong sense of spirit that is both rousing and profound, with the The Hill working as both a parable and sports biopic.

What gives The Hill that extra something special is its story of father and son, with Dennis Quaid playing Rickey’s loving yet stubborn preacher father who believes it is God’s will for Rickey to follow in the family business. Rickey counters that he believes his talent for hitting dingers is God given, and that the baseball filed is the pulpit where he can best give glory to God.

In turn The Hill asks the question: if talent is indeed God given, is it not the responsibility of those bestowed with the gift of talent to endure all matter of suffering and hardship so that their gift can flourish?

For Rickey Hill that question is answered with humility and pain, love and heartbreak, and the support of a family and community in Christ, all of which the refreshingly old-school The Hill captures to create a beautiful feelgood sports drama.