Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond players walk off the field after losing to Clarksville in a Class 1A state semifinal. Pictured left to right are Toryn Helle, Rihanna Myers, Hadley Oswald and Ansley Oswald on Wednesday at Rogers Park. For more photos please visit CU.messengernews.net

Bill Shirbroun had as honest of an assessment following a loss as a high school coach can provide.

Clarksville stunned St. Edmond in front of a packed Rogers Sports Complex here Wednesday night, walking off with an 11-3 win in five after a grand slam by Claire Lodge.

With the win, the Indians (30-4 overall) advance to play No. 1 Wayne on Friday for the Class 1A state championship on Channel Seeds Field at 7:30 p.m. The Gaels (25-11) return to the third-place game for a second straight season to take on Riverside Friday at 6 p.m. back at Rogers Park.

“They just beat us – plain and simple,” Shirbroun said. “They took it to us and that is what happens. Honestly, we didn’t play very well in any aspect of the game, and against a quality opponent, you can’t win like that.

“But we’ll regroup and come back on Friday trying to get third.”

Lodge had the second grand slam of the night, as Kara Bohlen opened up the floodgates in the first with a bases-clearing longball as part of a six-run first.

“We just didn’t seem to have it,” Shirbroun said. “I don’t know if we were tight because of the situation or just having an off night. But complete credit to Clarksville because they came out and they won the game.”

Faith Shirbroun collected two of the three hits that Sydney Lovrien allowed, as she did walk five batters. Myrah Lemon had the other base hit for the Gaels, who did score first when Mariah Myers came around to score on an error.

St. Edmond cut into a 6-1 deficit with a pair of runs in the fifth courtesy of runs by Shirbroun and Rihanna Myers. But moments later, Clarksville silenced any hopes of a late-game rally by returning the favor with five runs.

Lodge, Emmalee Manwarren, Lovrien and Bohlen each had two hits on the night to pace the Indians, who have recorded nine consecutive unbeaten seasons in the Iowa Star Conference North.

CLARKSVILLE 11, ST. EDMOND 3 (5 inn.)

St. Edmond 100 02 – 3 3 3

Clarksville 600 05 – 11 12 3

WP-Sydney Lovrien (5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 5 BB). LP-Toryn Helle (4.2 IP, 12 H, 6 ER, 0 K, 1 BB).

HR-C: Claire Lodge, Kara Bohlen. 2B-SE: Faith Shirbroun; C: Catelynn Lodge. SB-SE: Mariah Myers; C: Emmalee Manwarren.