Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Mariah Myers of St. Edmond hits a home run against Newell-Fonda on Monday at Rogers Park.

Monday’s Class 1A Top-10 showdown between the St. Edmond softball team and Newell-Fonda was called off early at Rogers Park due to lightning in the area.

The sixth-ranked Gaels were just coming to bat in the bottom of the fourth with the No. 8 Mustangs leading, 4-3. Plans are being worked on to resume the game at a later date.

In her first official at-bat at St. Edmond, junior University of Iowa commit Mariah Myers sent a 3-1 pitch over the fence in right to give the Gaels an early 1-0 lead.

Lauren Gibb and Kaili Henning had back-to-back doubles with two outs in the inning against all-stater pitcher Kierra Jungers to put St. Edmond up 3-0.

Newell-Fonda cut into the deficit in the second when No. 9 hitter Mylie Hinders drove in Anna Mercer. Jungers, meanwhile, settled down after the opening frame, recording five strikeouts in her first prep pitching outing since suffering an injury early last year.

Jungers, who has signed with DMACC, entered the night with a record of 66-11 and 630 strikeouts for her career.

The Mustangs took the third on the heels of a three-run third that was helped by two St. Edmond errors. Jaicee Vanderhoff had a two-RBI single that scored both Jocee Walsh and Mercer, who was 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI on the night.

Another Gibb double in the third started a rally that resulted in the bases being loaded for a second consecutive inning. This time, Josie Harvey laid down a sacrifice bunt that plated Gibb.

Harvey, coming off a third place finish at state track over the weekend in the 100-meter hurdles, also contributed a hit and a stolen base.

Isabel Bartek, Newell-Fonda’s leadoff hitter, reached base twice with a steal.

The Gaels return to action Thursday when they host Pocahontas Area. The Mustangs welcome Spirit Lake Wednesday for their home opener.