Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Kaili Henning of St. Edmond tags Humboldt's Elsie Hubbell at Rogers Park during the regular season.

The 14th-ranked St. Edmond softball team returns to the field to begin postseason play here at Rogers Park Wednesday night.

Up first for the Gaels will be AGWSR in a Class 1, Region 4 quarterfinal.

First-pitch is set for 7 p.m.

St. Edmond (23-6 overall) claimed a share of the North Central Conference crown, finishing the regular season on a three-game win streak. They were 10-5 over the final 15 games, including wins over Humboldt, Webster City and Mason City.

“Our schedule really challenged us this year,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “Not only playing in the NCC, but at tournaments by facing bigger schools. I feel like the girls really gained valuable experience being tested against those kind of teams in put in those kind of situations.”

Sophomore ace Kaili Henning compiled a 15-2 record, striking out 172 batters in 136 innings. Opponents hit just .218 off Henning, who walked only 39.

“Kaili continued to grow and get stronger as the year went on,” Shirbroun said. “When she is locked in, it is a lot of fun to watch.”

Eighth-grader Faith Shirbroun, senior Gracie Harvey, junior Anna Kolacia and freshmen Ansley Oswald and Lauren Gibb all stole at least 22 bases. Harvey leads the team in batting with a .382 average, driving in 18 with 17 extra-base hits and 30 runs.

Ansley Oswald, Hadley Oswald, Alyson Nieland, Shirbroun and Henning are all hitting over .300. Henning has 22 RBI, while Kolacia leads the team with 16 walks.

“I feel like we can put together big innings at the plate if we stay focused,” Shirbroun said. “Down the stretch, we’ve really been hitting the ball well.”

Harvey, the Oswald twins, Nieland, Shirbroun and Gibb each have double figures in RBI, with Shirbroun leading the team with five home runs.

AGWSR (4-24) topped Northwood-Kensett last Friday night to advance, 19-0. The Cougars and Gaels met in the 2019 postseason, with AGWSR posting a 2-1 victory.

From 2012-19, AGWSR won at least 20 games each year, including 29 three consecutive seasons.

Junior Sidney Schafer is the top pitcher and classmate Avery Lafrenz the leading hitter for the Cougars.

The winner between St. Edmond and AGWSR will face either Mason City Newman (22-9) or Saint Ansgar (20-8) back here on Friday in a regional semifinal. The top-half of the bracket pits No. 4 Collins-Maxwell (21-2) vs. Colo-Nesco (8-20) and Riceville (19-9) vs. North Butler (11-14).