Messenger photo by Britt Kudla St. Edmond baseball coach Joe Shanks is given a plaque by St. Edmond player Sam Dougall before Monday’s regular-season home finale. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Joe Shanks wanted Monday night’s focus to center around the game and nothing else.

Even with his baseball team’s come-from-behind victory, the story was about so much more than the final score.

The Gaels (13-13 overall) pulled out a 5-3 North Central Conference win over Hampton-Dumont (7-13-1), serving as a perfect way to honor Shanks — the outgoing head coach who was leading his team in their final regular-season contest at Rogers Park.

St. Edmond did not renew the athletic director’s contract for the 2017-18 school year. The 59-year-old Shanks’ last day as AD was on June 30, but he is finishing his final season with the baseball program.

Before the contest with the Bulldogs yesterday, former players presented Shanks with a plaque and a signed baseball.

“After the recognition and ceremony, we got back to baseball,” Shanks said. “It took an inning or so, but we found our rhythm.

“I was glad my wife (Jody) was out here, as well as my son, Jason, and daughter Kristan (Giddings). My other daughter Sarah (Platt) wasn’t able to come. It’s been a tough stretch, but it’s been a fun ride.”

Shanks had many memorable moments at the field he called home.

“I remember playing at Rogers Park back when I was a kid for Coach (James) Ellwanger,” Shanks said. “We had some good players on those teams. Some fun times and memories.”

Shanks — a 1976 graduate of St. Edmond, where he was twice named all-state in baseball — earned his 500th career coaching victory in 2015. That same year, he was inducted into the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Shanks is also a member of the Briar Cliff University Hall of Fame.

Among the five state titles St. Edmond won while Shanks served as athletic director is the 2009 Class 2A baseball championship, in which Shanks served as head coach.

“I was lucky enough to come back and coach at my alma mater,” Shanks said. “I was also fortunate to have my dad watch me play and coach. It means a lot; that will be what I think about after the season.

“I’ve had a lot of good times and a lot of support from family and friends. There were a lot of them here (on Monday); some of my old ballplayers were here too, and I have a lot of memories with them.”

The Gaels rallied from a 2-0 deficit with a four run fifth inning. Sam Dougall had an RBI single to plate Cole Allison. Jake Szalat followed with a two-run single to score Cael Kolacia and Brant Reiling. Dougall scored after Jackson Kochendorfer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Nick O’Brien came home on a passed ball.

Szalat picked up the complete-game victory, allowing six hits while striking out four and walking only one.

Szalat retired the first nine batters he faced, and sat the side down in order four times. He also had two hits and drove in two runs.

“We did enough to come through for a victory,” Shanks said. “Jake threw well and we got some key hits.”

The players had their own recognition for Shanks following the game. All of them wore shirts under their jerseys that read “Shanks for coaching us,” and took pictures with the coach afterward.

The Gaels finish up the regular season with road games at Webster City and Clear Lake on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.

St. Edmond will open postseason play on Tuesday when they host West Bend-Mallard in a Class 1A, District 3 quarterfinal at Rogers Park at 7 p.m.

ST. EDMOND 5, HAMPTON-DUMONT 3

Hampton-Dumont 000 200 1 — 3 6 2

St. Edmond 001 040 x — 5 7 0

Dustin Miller, Lukas Smith (5) and Gus Jacome. Jake Szalat and Jack McEvoy. 3B–HD: Caleb Chaney.