-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Mariah Myers of St. Edmond catches a fly ball against Humboldt on Friday

The fourth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team put a cap on opening week with a 9-5 win over Humboldt here Friday night at Rogers Park.

With the victory, the Gaels (3-2 overall, 1-0 in North Central Conference) began defense of their league title with a 19th consecutive win in conference play. St. Edmond is now 40-3 in its last 43 NCC games.

But this one was as difficult of one to put to bed as any.

The Wildcats (0-2, 0-1) loaded the bases in the sixth and seventh but scored just one run as eighth-grader Breckyn Ulrich pitched out of the situations.

Ulrich went all seven innings for the first time this season, striking out four with eight hits and four walks.

“She showed a lot out there in terms of her ability and competitiveness,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “I just went out that one time in the seventh and it was more of a ‘hey, let’s have some fun’ chat. (Ulrich) did a nice job of settling herself down in tough situations and really pitched well.

“I know with all that we have back this year, people might have thought it would just be easy every night out. But we are going to have to fight and claw for everything we want.”

Faith Shirbroun remained hot at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base, Mariah Myers was intentionally walked four times, scoring twice and stealing three bases, and both Toryn Helle and Myrah Lemon drove in two runs.

St. Edmond was playing without centerfielder Lauren Gibb, who is in the state tennis semifinals, and catcher Hadley Oswald, who suffered an injury earlier this week.

Humboldt, meanwhile, was down several regulars who were playing in a regional soccer final including senior Elsie Hubbell.

Adalee Nolting, who has pitched both games this week, was 3-for-3 at the plate while Hayden Graff drove in a pair. Claire Dieleman had two hits and Kiera Anderson scored twice.

The Gaels broke things open in the fifth, scoring seven runs and batting through the lineup. They took advantage of six walks and an error, as Lemon drove in two on a key single.

“We’re getting production from certain spots in the lineup at key moments,” Shirbroun said. “We haven’t come close to putting it together 1-through-9, but we will, and when we do, we will be very dangerous.”

St. Edmond returns to action on Monday when they host Iowa Falls-Alden while Humboldt makes its home debut that same night vs. Webster City.

ST. EDMOND 9, HUMBOLDT 5

Humboldt 021 010 1 — 5 8 2

St. Edmond 200 070 x — 9 8 5

WP–Breckyn Ulrich (2-0, 7 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 4 BB). LP–Adalee Nolting (0-2, 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 6 BB). 2B–H: Mia Schluter, Abby Armitage; SE: Faith Shirbroun. RBI–H: Abby Armitage, Jazzie Dodd, Hayden Graff; SE: Faith Shirbroun, Ansley Oswald, Toryn Helle (2), Myrah Lemon (2), Jade Rock, Liv Andrew. SB–H: Mia Schulter; SE: Mariah Myers (3), Faith Shirbroun, Jade Rock, Rihanna Myers. LOB–H: 12; SE: 9.