Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: The St. Edmond softball team poses with the Class 1A fourth-place trophy on Friday at Rogers Park. The Gaels lost to Southeast Warren in the consolation championship. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

A magical season came to an abrupt end for the St. Edmond softball team here Friday night on their home field.

The Gaels fell to Southeast Warren at Rogers Park in the Class 1A consolation championship, 12-8 in eight innings. The fourth-place finish now goes into the trophy case with a pair of third-place honors.

St. Edmond junior Mariah Myers was named to the all-tournament team, as the University of Iowa commit finished with three hits, three walks, two runs, two steals and an RBI over the week.

The game also was the final appearance in a Gael uniform for senior Kaili Henning, who struck out seven. Henning collected 21 strikeouts in the three games while also recording three hits and three RBI at state this week.

“We just couldn’t make that final play when we needed it,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “It’s tough to lose — especially like this — but it’s all part of the learning process. That includes players and coaches.

“We surprised a lot of people by qualifying last year. This season, it was our goal and we reached it while winning a game and getting to the semifinals. We just continue to set the bar higher and higher now.”

After failing to score a run for the first four innings versus Southeast Warren, St. Edmond got going in the fifth. Henning had a two-RBI single that tied the contest at 2-all before eighth-grader Toryn Helle connected on a two-run homer to give the Gaels the lead.

The Warhawks would answer back, plating three in the seventh with two outs to take a one-run advantage. The Gaels battled back again, tying the score on an RBI single by Myers that plated Faith Shirbroun, who had led off the inning with a double.

In the eighth, Southeast Warren crossed home seven times — again, all with two outs — providing just enough run support to hold off one last St. Edmond rally.

“Kaili has been incredible for us,” Shirbroun said. “She has been a leader on the field and off of it. We are going to miss her, but we are very excited about all the players we have coming back and coming up within the program.”

Henning and Helle both finished with two hits and a pair of RBI, while Hadley Oswald and Josie Harvey both had two hits. Harvey finished with a team-best four hits at state.

Myers made the all-tournament team for the third time in her career. She did the same as an eighth-grader and a freshman for Fort Dodge in Class 5A.

For the Warhawks, Emma Manser, Belle Ewing and Jaycee Neer all had home runs. Neer, the daughter of former UFC fighter Josh Neer, had a tying two-run shot in the seventh.

SOUTHEAST WARREN 12, ST. EDMOND 8

SE Warren 010 100 37 – 12 13 2

St. Edmond 000 040 13 – 8 11 2

WP-Kaylyn Holmes (20-3, 8 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 4 K, 3 BB). LP-Kaili Henning (16-5, 7â…” IP, 13 H, 8 ER, 7 K, 4 BB).

HR-SEW: Belle Ewing, Emma Manser, Jaycee Neer; SE: Toryn Helle. 2B-SEW: Lola Shriver; SE: Toryn Helle, Faith Shirbroun. RBI-SEW: Belle Ewing, Emma Manser (4), Jaycee Neer (2), Natalie Geisler, Sturgis Fridley, Lola Shriver; SE: Kaili Henning (2), Toryn Helle (2), Mariah Myers, Josie Harvey, Faith Shirbroun. SB-SE: Ansley Oswald, Faith Shirbroun, Lauren Gibb, Kaili Henning.