This story has been updated from its original version to correct an inaccuracy.

The Fountain Hills High School softball team went to Payson this past weekend to participate in the Gracie Haight Classic tournament. The Falcons went 1-3 and, unfortunately, their lone win is surrounded by controversy.

Head coach Lawrence Hughes used an unnamed player to play and pitch in the 6-0 win against Show Low, according to sources. The pitcher was not a normal Falcon player, and Hughes is now under a bylaw investigation by school officials.

Sophomore Shania Rivera pitched every other game this weekend, and she averaged two strikeouts per game. She also hit a double and had the only RBI in the first tournament game against Sabino (13-2).

The Sabino Sabercats wasted no time in the first match of the tournament. They put up nine runs in the first inning and had 11 hits as a team compared to two hits from the Falcons.

Senior Mia Duda started the second inning with a double, and then Rivera brought her home for a score. The Falcons didn’t have any more luck offensively, but they played better defensively and didn’t allow another run.

The Falcons started slowly in their second game against Camp Verde and allowed nine runs in the first inning again. Junior Hailey Chandler led off with a double in the first inning, and she stole home to get the Falcons’ only run.

Chandler is currently leading the region in stolen bases. She is third in the conference, and 20th in the state. Chandler can catch up quickly, as she has the fewest games played of anyone that high on the leaderboard. Chandler has 12 steals in seven games at the time of writing, and some players above her in the ladder have 15 steals in 18 games.

Rivera kept pace with the Camp Verde pitcher, both pitched two strikeouts, but the Falcons had problems fielding. Camp Verde only had four more team hits, but the Falcons lost 16-1.

The Falcons’ final game on Friday was delayed until 9:30 p.m., and they played better in the chilly nighttime air. Chandler started the Falcons’ offense with a single, and she used her speed to steal second and third when Show Low made an error.

The unnamed player was walked right after Chandler, and she also stole second. Then sophomore Sammantha Hughes brought them both in to score with a single to make it 2-0.

The Falcons’ next score came when Duda stole home in the third inning during junior Emma Medina’s at bat. The Falcons continued to play good defense and closed it out in the fifth inning with three more runs.

The unnamed player advanced to first on an error, and then Hughes and Duda hit their own singles. Duda got on RBI, and both Hughes and Duda stole home for the final scores.

The Falcons returned to Payson on Saturday morning to face Wilcox (14-2-1). The Falcons only had six hits as a team, but half of them came from rookies.

Duda led the team with two hits and an RBI, and Medina and sophomore Cynthia Espinoza also got a hit. Chandler had the other hit for the Falcons.

The Falcons allowed nine hits from Wilcox and 10 runs in the first inning. The Falcons couldn’t get out of the hole the Cowboys put them in early on and lost 13-1.

The Falcons returned from spring break this past week and started their region schedule against Chino Valley on Monday, March 20. The Falcons would have played at Crismon this Thursday, March 23, but it was pushed back to Wednesday, April 5.

High school assistant principal Jessica Kane has stepped up to coach while Hughes is under investigation. Kane has 10 years’ experience coaching softball in Connecticut, and she is assisted by an alumnus from last year’s graduating class, Michaela Quintana.

The Falcons’ next game will be next Monday, March 27, at Camp Verde at 3:45 p.m. The Falcons will then host Camp Verde at home on Thursday, March 30, at 3:45 p.m.