Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Returning letterwinners for the St. Edmond softball team are, front row (left to right): Ansley Oswald, Faith Shirbroun and Sophia Schlienz. Back: Myrah Lemon, Lauren Gibb, Toryn Helle, Jade Rock and Mariah Myers. Not pictured: Hadley Oswald.

St. Edmond’s ascension as a softball program has been steady and sharp over the last four seasons.

The next hurdle to clear is the highest of all: becoming a Class 1A championship contender.

Head coach Bill Shirbroun believes he has the pieces in place to think big again this season. The Gaels return over 80 percent of their at-bats from an offense that ranked in the Top-5 for runs, doubles, triples, home runs, total bases, slugging percentage and stolen bases in 1A a year ago.

All-everything superstar and University of Iowa recruit Mariah Myers is back for her senior year, alongside fellow all-stater Faith Shirbroun and first team all-North Central Conference selections Lauren Gibb, Ansley Oswald and Toryn Helle.

The question mark, for now at least, is in the circle. Second team all-state pitcher Kaili Henning, a four-year staple who accumulated an overall varsity pitching record of 52-10, graduated and is now a standout at Loras College.

“This group has worked incredibly hard,” said Shirbroun, who is 95-48 in five years at the helm. “Our goal two seasons ago was to get over the hump and make the state tournament. We did that. (In 2024), we wanted to at least win our first game (at state) and put ourselves in a position (to make the finals). We did that. So now, the next natural step is to (reach the championship round).

“We’re not shying away from the expectations or the challenge. We haven’t talked much about it, but we don’t need to. It’s a veteran ballclub. They’re ready. They know.”

INFIELD

Myers, a freshly-minted state track champion, is ranked by some publications as the top overall prep player in Iowa. The standout shortstop’s numbers support that claim; Myers had an all-class best .714 on-base percentage in 2024, batting .600 with 14 home runs. She drove in 36 and scored 45 times in 33 games, stealing 23 bases as well and not striking out once.

The infield is intact, with Helle and Oswald at first base, Sophia Schlienz at second, Myers at short, Shirbroun at third and Hadley Oswald behind the plate. Eighth-graders Rihanna Myers and Ella Vandi are also in the mix at second.

“I think our defense is going to be a really big part of what we do and who we are again (the Gaels had the second-best fielding percentage in 1A a year ago),” Shirbroun said. “Faith and Mariah have done a ton of work on their own in the offseason and really have the left side locked down. I hear them doing a ton of communicating out there at all times. First and second are deep and competitive. We’re set with Hadley and Myrah (Lemon) at catcher.

“It’s going to be a security blanket for all of our younger pitchers as they get used to this level of ball.”

Faith Shirbroun, now in her fourth year, batted .368 with seven homers and 29 RBI as a sophomore, scoring a club-best 48 times and swiping 38 bases. Ansley Oswald, a five-year starter for St. Edmond, hit .402 last summer. Helle batted .343 with four long balls and 32 driven in as an eighth-grader in 2024.

OUTFIELD

Gibb is the anchor in center. A five-year staple for the Gaels, she stole 47 bases and carried a .368 batting average while going an entire season — like Myers — without striking out.

Ansley Oswald and Lemon are in left field, with either Schlienz or Rihanna Myers in right depending on the second-base situation.

“Our defense in the outfield covers a lot of ground and will be solid to (complement the infield and back the pitchers),” Shirbroun said. “They’ll all do a great job when their number is called.

“Lauren is one of the best around, and all of our corner outfielders have their own strengths. We’re to a point where our core group (of juniors and seniors) have been around long enough that they know what to do and what to expect. They’re passing that along to the younger kids. It’s very much a player-led team.”

PITCHING

Henning was the program’s steady hand during a run to the state quarterfinals in 2023 and the semis in 2024. Shirbroun has plenty of options to choose from, as he hopes to replace her collectively – at least at first.

“We’ll just kind of take it as it goes,” Shirbroun said. “We’ll try our best to utilize each one based on what we need and the opponent we’re facing — not just game by game, but sometimes, inning by inning.”

Helle was 4-1 with a 1.95 earned run average last summer. Schlienz went 2-0 and didn’t allow an earned run. They are in the stable next to Rihanna Myers and Breckyn Ulrich — two eighth-grade gems who expect to arrive in a hurry on the varsity scene.

“It’s just a matter of getting them out there and going through situations,” Shirbroun said. “They’re talented. And they’re all going to be good. But you can’t skip the step of gaining experience in this sport. So it will just take some time.

“We have (former Webster City all-state pitcher) Delainey Bargfrede working with them as a volunteer assistant. She’s helping them learn both the physical and mental aspects of finding consistency at the varsity level. For now, we’re a work in progress. Until we put their feet to the fire, it’s a bit of an unknown.”

SCHEDULE AND COACHES

The Gaels are the three-time defending North Central Conference champions. They’ve completely dominated league play during that stretch, going 38-3.

Shirbroun has again gone hunting for difficult competition away from the NCC. St. Edmond will face Class 5A powers Muscatine, Southeast Polk, Waukee Northwest and Bettendorf in a brutal four-game stretch June 20 and21 at Waukee Northwest, and the Gaels also have single contests scheduled with North Polk, Van Meter, Saydel, Treynor and Sioux City Heelan.

The team’s own softball invitational is at Rogers Park on June 28, with Estherville-Lincoln Central, Mason City Newman, Eagle Grove, North Union, Pocahontas Area and Le Mars Gehlen coming to town.

“The goal is to get them physically and mentally prepared for everything,” Shirbroun said. “We’ll see a lot of talented ballclubs who will test our ability to execute.”

Shirbroun will again be assisted by Mariah and Rihanna’s father, Bill Myers.

The Gaels open their season at Newell-Fonda on Monday. Their home opener is the next night in a twinbill against Saint Ansgar.

2025 ST. EDMOND SOFTBALL

Roster

Seniors — Mariah Myers, Lauren Gibb, Ansley Oswald, Hadley Oswald.

Junior — Faith Shirbroun.

Sophomores — Sophia Schlienz, Olivia Andrew, Myrah Lemon.

Freshmen — Toryn Helle, Greenlee Crimmins, Jade Rock.

Eighth-graders — Rihanna Myers, Breckyn Ulrich, Ella Vandi.

Schedule

May 26 — at Newell-Fonda; 27 — St. Ansgar; 29 — at Pocahontas Area; 30 — Humboldt.

June 2 — Iowa Falls-Alden; 3 — Southeast Valley; 4 — at Hampton-Dumont/CAL; 6 — Webster City; 7 — Sioux City Heelan and Le Mars Gehlen at the CYO Tournament in Le Mars; 9 — at Clear Lake; 11 — Algona; 12 — at GTRA; 13 — Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; 14 — Treynor and Van Meter at Van Meter; 16 — at Iowa Falls-Alden; 17 — at North Polk; 18 — at Humboldt; 20 — Muscatine and Southeast Polk at Waukee Northwest; 21 — Waukee Northwest and Bettendorf at Waukee Northwest; 23 — Hampton-Dumont/CAL; 25 — at Webster City; 26 — at Saydel; 27 — Clear Lake; 28 — St. Edmond Invitational; 30 — at Algona.

July 2 — at Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; 3 — North Union.