The St. Edmond softball team hopes their postseason run ends inside the very same park it begins on.

The Gaels open Class 1A, Region 8 action here Monday night at Rogers Park vs. Riceville. First-pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Awaiting the winner will be No. 7 AGWSR on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals in Ackley.

St. Edmond (12-13 overall) has advanced to the regional championship each of the past two years, including a loss last season one game removed from qualifying for state vs. AGWSR. Two years ago, the Gaels’ run was stopped by Montezuma.

Seniors Erin Flattery, Jacque Oberg, Devyn Scott, Macey Mason and Abby Landwehr are part of a group that has won 48 games over the past four seasons, including half of those at Rogers Park — site of the state tournament.

Flattery leads the Gaels in batting, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBI, triples and hits, and is tied for the team-lead in doubles. Oberg, who has a pair of home runs, carries an 11-game hit streak into play.

Junior Jocy Timmerman is second in batting, slugging and on-base, and is one of four players with double-digit RBI totals on the team.

Ella Vratny has carried the load inside the circle, winning 12 times with just under 100 strikeouts in 124 innings pitched.

Riceville is led by sophomore Josie Gansen and eighth-grader Madison Mauer. Gansen leads the team in hits, runs and steals, with Mauer and Abby Marr combining for over 50 RBI on the season.

Gansen is also the ace of the staff, logging over 100 innings with 60-plus strikeouts.

St. Edmond and Riceville do not share any common opponents, but like the Gaels, the Wildcats have played several ranked teams include 1A Top-10s Collins-Maxwell (No. 1), Clarksville (No. 3) and Janesville (No. 10).

The rest of the Region 8 bracket includes No. 9 Bishop Garrigan, West Bend-Mallard, Mason City Newman, North Butler, Rockford, West Hancock, North Iowa, Northwood-Kensett, Nashua-Plainfield and West Fork.

The regional final is scheduled for July 15 at a site to be determined.