Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond’s Mariah Myers catches a line drive against Hampton-Dumont/CAL on Monday night at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Bill Shirbroun had a talk with his St. Edmond softball team — and they listened.

According to Shirbroun, the Gaels (14-9 overall, 8-1 in the North Central Conference) had been struggling at the plate in their approach and discipline over the last eight games.

On Monday, the seventh-ranked (Class 1A) Gaels seemed to solve that problem, cranking out seven hits and being much more patient in a 10-0, four-inning win over Hampton-Dumont (4-8, 3-4) at Rogers Park.

Granted, St. Edmond had faced eight foes above Class 1A, going 2-6 against those opponents. They beat Bettendorf (5A) and Humboldt (3A), but lost to No. 1 Waukee Northwest, sixth-rated Southeast Polk and 10th-ranked Muscatine in 5A. They also fell to No. 7 (4A) North Polk, along with 2A rated programs in Van Meter (No. 1) and Treynor (No. 6).

Against the Bulldogs, they drew five walks and had seven hits — including two for extra bases.

“We talked to the girls about being patient and their approach,” Shirbroun said. “We did a better job (on Monday) and need for that to continue the rest of the way.”

The Gaels burst out of the gate, sending nine batters to the plate in the second inning and plating five runs on three hits.

Freshman Toryn Helle (8-4) had a strong effort in the circle. She threw a two-hitter, allowing singles in the second and third innings. She struck out five.

“Toryn is our No. 1,” Shirbroun said. “She is confident out there and is doing a good job. She throws hard and throws strikes and when her change-up is working (like it was against the Bulldogs), she’s hard to hit.”

Lauren Gibb had a two-run single to get things going for St. Edmond. Rihanna Myers added an RBI-single to score Ansley Oswald.

Myrah Lemon scored on an error and Myers came home on a wild pitch. Hadley Oswald and Mariah Myers scored on Gibb’s hit.

The Gaels put the game away in the fourth with five runs before the Bulldogs could record an out. Faith Shirbroun had an RBI-double to score Rihanna Myers. Hadley Oswald and Shirbroun scored on a two-run single by Mariah Myers,.

Gibb then went opposite field to score Myers, and reached home on an error to end it.

“We talked about situational hitting and going with the pitch instead of trying to pull the ball,” Shirbroun said. “Taking what the pitcher gives you and putting the ball in play.”

Gibb finished 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI. Mariah Myers had two RBI, while Shirbroun and Rihanna Myers had one each.

St. Edmond, which has won three straight North Central Conference titles, has league games left against Iowa Falls-Alden (3-5 NCC heading into Monday night), Webster City (2-7), Clear Lake (7-1), Algona (6-1) and Clarion-Goldfield (0-8).

The Gaels, Lions and Bulldogs are tied atop the conference.

St. Edmond is back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Iowa Falls-Alden. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.

ST. EDMOND 10, HAMPTON-DUMONT-CAL 0

HD-CAL 000 0 — 0 2 3

St. Edmond 050 5 — 10 7 0

WP–Toryn Helle (4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO); 2B–SE: Faith Shirbroun; 3B–SE: Lauren Gibb; SB–SE: Gibb (2), Rihanna Myers, Mariah Myers, Myrah Lemon; CS–SE: Sophia Schlienz; Multiple hits–SE: Gibb (3); RBI–SE: Gibb (3), Mariah Myers (2), Shirbroun, Rihanna Myers.