Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Jed Tracy scores for St. Edmond against Collins-Maxwell on Saturday during a district quarterfinal in Ogden. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

OGDEN — The St. Edmond baseball team is three outs away from advancing in the Class 1A, District 4 tournament.

The Gaels (4-3 overall) exploded out of the gates to take a 13-2 lead against Collins-Maxwell on Saturday before rain washed out their chances to finish the contest early.

The game was postponed as the bottom of the fourth inning came to an end. Head coach Mike Szalat’s squad will complete the mercy-rule victory and advance if they close out the top of the fifth with a lead of at least 10 runs.

Fourth-seeded St. Edmond was taking the field for the first time since June 26, when a positive COVID-19 test sent the program into a 14-day quarantine period. The Gaels got right back to business against the Spartans (5-4), erupting for the first seven runs of the afternoon.

“I didn’t see any nervous energy at all,” Szalat said. “We found a quick early rhythm, which was obviously a positive. We put the ball in play and although (C-M) made some errors, that stemmed a lot from putting pressure on their defense and forcing the issue.

“The kids ran the bases well, and (junior pitcher) Cael (Kolacia) was throwing strikes and getting ahead in the count right away. That was big, too. We executed well and played good, solid situational baseball.”

First pitch on Monday will be at 5 p.m. The game will resume in the top of the fifth with the same score.

The winner advances to take on top-seeded Ogden (8-6) back here on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs moved into the district semifinal round thanks to a bye.

Madrid (8-5) and Ankeny Christian (12-4) are on the other side of the bracket. The district final is on Saturday in Ogden at 7 p.m.