The 12th-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball squad has cultivated an aura of confidence thanks to an 18-4 start to the season.

Now, Gael head coach Bill Shirbroun would like to see his team get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Another easy North Central Conference win came on Friday night at home, as St. Edmond froze Clear Lake at Rogers Park by a 6-1 final. The Gaels took advantage of five Lion errors with some timely hitting and ace Kaili Henning did the rest, striking out 10 and scattering five hits.

“We’ve been talking about this stretch run,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “It’s kind of a sprint to the finish. We have to start gearing up for (the postseason), but we also can’t look too far ahead.

“We want to try to push ourselves out of our comfort zone. To not settle for just being good enough. The wins and losses are important, sure, but we have to keep taking steps forward every single day and try to get everything put together at the right time.”

The Gaels plated two runs a piece in the third, fourth and sixth innings. Leadoff hitter Faith Shirbroun, just an eighth grader, had an RBI single and a run-scoring double. No. 9 batter Josie Harvey was on base three times, scoring three runs, ripping two singles and stealing a base.

That was more than enough for Henning, who improved to 13-3 on the year. The sophomore hurler struck out two batters in the first, second, sixth and seventh innings. She only had one walk, and it was intentional.

St. Edmond committed just one error behind Henning on an awkwardly hit ground ball to first base that spun away from Alyson Nieland.

“Kaili did a nice job,” Shirbroun said. “We’re pretty balanced offensively; I think if you look at our lineup, almost everyone is hitting in the same range (batting average-wise). And the defense was steady for the most part.

“This sport is all about execution. We’re getting there, but still need to improve over these last seven regular-season games.”

Clear Lake fell to 3-13 and 2-8 in the North Central Conference.

The Gaels now host an invitational on Saturday, playing Mason City at 10 a.m., North Union at noon and Remsen St. Mary’s at 2 p.m. The first two contests are on Diamond 2; the last is on Diamond 1.

North Union takes on Woodward-Granger at 10 a.m. and Mason City at 2. Pocahontas Area squares off with Remsen St. Mary’s at 10, Mason City at noon and Woodward-Granger at 2.

St. Edmond, which is now 10-1 in the North Central Conference, visits Hampton-Dumont/CAL on Monday and hosts Iowa Falls-Alden on Tuesday before an NCC showdown finale at home against league frontrunner Webster City (15-8, 10-0).

The Gaels were also given their Class 1A regional assignment on Friday. They will face either Northwood-Kensett or AGWSR on July 6 at home in a Region 4 quarterfinal. St. Ansgar, Mason City Newman and West Hancock are also on St. Edmond’s side of the bracket.

Collins-Maxwell, rated fourth in 1A, is on the other side of the region.

ST. EDMOND 6, CLEAR LAKE 1

Clear Lake 000 010 0 — 1 5 5

St. Edmond 002 202 x — 6 8 1

WP–Kaili Henning (13-3; 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K). 2B–SE: Faith Shirbroun; CL: Annika Nelson. SB–SE: Josie Harvey, Lauren Gibb, Ansley Oswald. SF–SE: Gracie Harvey.