For the first time since 2002, the Fountain Hills High School softball team claimed its region championship in a decisive win to cap off the regular season.

The Lady Falcons played in the 3A Metro Regional Championship against American Leadership Academy Gilbert on Monday, April 22. Fountain Hills won the game 16-4.

After clinching the region, FHHS advanced to the first round of the playoffs, playing Window Rock on Wednesday, April 24. The Lady Falcons suffered a narrow defeat, losing 3-2 to bring the season to a close.

ALA Gilbert

Going into the ALA game, head coach Randy Bragg talked to his team about not underestimating an opponent they had already beaten.

“It was a close game before, when we played them,” Bragg said. “So we talked about how these games can be dangerous because ALA isn’t really playing for anything but pride. So if we go in with our guard down, things can turn on us.”

The Lady Falcons instead went in on the offensive and scored five runs in their first at bat. ALA responded with three runs in the first inning, but were unable to keep the momentum going, only scoring one more run in the third inning.

Fountain Hills sealed the win and their championship in the fifth inning when they put seven more runs on the scoreboard and run ruled ALA for the victory.

Window Rock

Bragg said that the postseason game against Window Rock was one of the fastest games of softball he has witnessed.

“The pitchers were just so good,” Bragg explained. “It was just back and forth; the innings would be less than three or four minutes sometimes.”

Both Fountain Hills’ Sophia Buckley and Window Rock’s pitcher were able to hold the opposing team scoreless until the fourth inning. Fountain Hills scored the first run but Window Rock answered with three of their own.

Fountain Hills battled until the end and was able to squeeze by one more run, but ultimately lost the game by a single run.

Bragg said it was disappointing to end the season on such a close game, but he is happy that the Lady Falcons accomplished what they set out to do at the beginning of the season.

“In the beginning of the year we talked about what we wanted; to change the ending, that was our theme and we did that,” Bragg said. “So we accomplished that and now, next year, we can set our sights a little higher.”