ALTA — The 12th-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team dropped a 2-1 decision here Thursday night to No. 9 (2A) Alta/Aurelia.

Ella Vratny picked up four strikeouts inside the circle, allowing just four hits for the Gaels. Erin Flattery had a hit and scored the only SEHS run.

Flattery also had a steal and helped keep a run off the board with her defense.

“Erin is playing her tail off and I know with her leadership, we’ll get on the right track,” SEHS head coach Nick Clark said. “And Jocy Timmerman made two game-saving plays at first. She’s still coming back from her (knee) injury, but continues to play great in the field.

“We just couldn’t string anything together. We’d get a hit or a walk, but it was always coming with two outs.”

Alta/Aurelia scored a run in the fourth and another in the fifth, with St. Edmond getting on the board in the sixth.

The Warriors were without senior all-state pitcher Abby Kraemer, who was hit in the head by a pitch vs. Newell-Fonda on Wednesday night.

“We wish Abby all the best in her recovery,” Clark said. “She is a tremendous player and hopefully she gets back on the diamond soon.”

Kraemer had 102 strikeouts in 50 innings so far on the year. She had 363 strikeouts last year in helping Alta/Aurelia qualify for state.

The Gaels return to action Saturday when they compete in the Van Meter Tournament.

In the junior varsity contest, St. Edmond lost, 11-5.