Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Ella Vratny of St. Edmond pitches against Rockford during Class 1A quarterfinals on Tuesday at Rogers Park. The Gaels won 7-6. For more photos, visit CU at messengernews.net

The St. Edmond softball team played the role of spoiler last year during regionals.

On Tuesday night inside Rogers Park, the 10th-ranked (Class 1A) Gaels had to withstand that same attempt by Rockford in the quarterfinals.

Ella Vratny delivered at the plate, driving in Jacque Oberg for the game-winning run with a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh, as St. Edmond won, 7-6.

The Gaels (19-8 overall) will now travel to face sixth-ranked Mason City Newman (28-6) on Friday after the Knights topped Colo-Nesco, 7-0, last night.

Vratny also earned the win inside the circle, striking out six to improve to 18-7 on the year.

“That was a great moment for Ella,” SEHS head coach Nick Clark said. “Being the pitcher, coming up with two outs at the plate and delivering; what an awesome feeling and experience for her.”

The Warriors (16-9), who scored a victory on Monday over North Iowa to being regional play, led 6-4 after plating four runs in the fifth. The big shot came on a two-run homer by pitcher Marissa Norby, who is headed to NIACC in the fall.

“In the postseason, you have to respect everyone,” Clark said. “There is not an easy out in (Rockford’s) lineup. They are a good team and (Norby) really mixed up her pitches.

“There isn’t going to be an easy game in the postseason and we like it that way.”

St. Edmond answered the four-run inning by Rockford with single runs in the fifth and sixth, as Erin Flattery and courtesy runner Sydney Engels each scored. Flattery was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored.

Jocy Timmerman reached base three times, including a pair of hit-by-pitches, Macey Mason had two hits with a run and an RBI, and Oberg had two hits.

In the seventh, Oberg started the rally off with a base hit, moving to second on a sacrifice by pinch-hitter Devyn Scott. Vratny delivered from there, rocking a pitch to the outfield grass.

“I trust these girls up-and-down the lineup,” Clark said. “Devyn stepped up in a big, tough spot and came through. That was big for her to sacrifice for the team and move Jacque.”

Senior Audrey Kolacia extended her streak of reaching base to 19 games with a single in the sixth. St. Edmond went 10-2 at Rogers Park this season and are 10-3 over the last 13.

ST. EDMOND 7, ROCKFORD 6

Rockford 002 040 0 — 6 9 4

St. Edmond 202 011 1 — 7 10 0

WP–Ella Vratny (18-7, 7 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 6 K, 2 BB). LP–Marissa Norby (13-7, 6ª IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 K, 0 BB). HR–R: Marissa Norby. 2B–R: Dawson Schriever; SE: Erin Flattery, Ella Vratny. RBI–R: Marissa Norby (3), Ella Carroll, Dawson Schriever (2); SE: Macey Mason, Jacque Oberg, Rylee Kinney, Ella Vratny. SB–R: Jamie Schuster, Emma Ramon; SE: Sydney Engels.