-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Lauren Gibbs of St. Edmond attempts to slide around Clear Lake on Friday at Rogers Park

Faith Shirbroun set the tone and the seventh-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team followed here Friday night at Rogers Park.

Shirbroun unloaded on a solo home run in the first as the Gaels gained back control of the North Central Conference with an 8-0 victory over Clear Lake in five innings.

St. Edmond (18-9 overall, 8-1 in league) now controls its own destiny in pursuit of the NCC title for a fourth consecutive season.

Toryn Helle spun a three-hitter, striking out two while throwing just 40 pitches on the night. Helle, a freshman, had 35 strikes and only five balls in silencing the Lions (14-7, 8-2).

“Toryn hit every single spot we called for her,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “She was locked in and looked like an ace out there. She’s really been in a zone as of late, as she wants the ball each time out.”

Shirbroun, a junior, went 2-for-3, driving in three while scoring twice. St. Edmond’s four seniors in Mariah Myers, Lauren Gibb, Ansley Oswald and Hadley Oswald combined for four hits, three RBI and three runs scored.

Myers, Gibb and the Oswald twins were honored before the game.

“Those four have been our cornerstone to everything we’ve built here,” Shirbroun said. “They are incredible kids and exceptional softball players who have put in the work. It’s been a joy to get to coach them and see them excel out here.”

Gibb was 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored while Myers scored twice. Both had a double, as did Myrah Lemon.

“I feel like we are putting it together in terms of hitting, pitching and defense,” Shirbroun said. “Toryn threw strikes and our defense backed her up. We had a chance to put a few more runs on the board, but overall, I thought we did a nice job at the plate.

“We still have to focus and take care of business if we want to win the conference.”

Back on June 9, Clear Lake ended St. Edmond’s NCC run with a 6-5 victory on its home field. The Lions have been one of a few to get the better of the Gaels in the league, having also split the season series in 2023 and ’21.

After Shirbroun’s sixth homer of the season, St. Edmond broke the game open with a five-run second. They batted around, as eight consecutive hitters reached base including a two-RBI single from Shirbroun that was followed by RBI hits from Gibb and Helle.

The Gaels will host their home invitational on Saturday, taking on Mason City at 10 a.m. and No. 6 (3A) Estherville-LC at 2 p.m. North Union, Pocahontas Area, Eagle Grove and Le Mars Gehlen will also be in action.

ST. EDMOND 8, CLEAR LAKE 0 (5 inn.)

Clear Lake 000 00 — 0 3 1

St. Edmond 150 2x — 8 10 0

WP–Toryn Helle (10-4, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 0 BB). LP–Makyla Johnson (11-4, 4 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 1 K, 3 BB).

HR–SE: Faith Shirbroun. 2B–CL: Alaina Hartl, Taylor Schwenn; SE: Mariah Myers, Myrah Lemon, Lauren Gibb. RBI–SE: Faith Shirbroun (3), Lauren Gibb (2), Toryn Helle, Ansley Oswald.