-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Lauren Gibbs of St. Edmond catches a fly ball against Bishop Garrigan during Regional quarterfinals on Wednesday at Rogers Park

The seventh-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team checked the first box off the list in their pursuit of a third consecutive state appearance here Wednesday night.

Mariah Myers homered, Toryn Helle spun a one-hitter and Lauren Gibb made a saved the shutout with a highlight-reel catch in center as the Gaels knocked out Bishop Garrigan, 8-0 in six innings.

St. Edmond (22-10 overall) will host North Union (22-7) back here at Rogers Park on Friday night in a 1A, Region 7 semifinal beginning at 7 p.m. The Warriors eliminated GTRA last night, 10-3.

Myers, the reigning Iowa Gatorade Softball Player of the Year, launched a first inning solo home run to deep center on a 2-0 count for 11th longball of the year. The senior who is headed to the University of Iowa in the fall added a double in her next at-bat before being walked for the 45th and 46th times this season.

“It took us a bit but once we got going, I thought we showed just how dangerous we can be at the plate,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “Mariah got us that run early, Lauren saved it from being tied and Toryn pitched an incredible game.

“I got after them a bit on a few situations because in the postseason, that can be the difference between winning and being done.”

The Gaels did leave 10 runners on, including seven in scoring position, but plated three in the fourth, three in the fifth and had two still on when Liv Andrew delivered the final blow to plate Greenlee Crimmins in the sixth.

Helle, a freshman in her first season as the primary pitcher for St. Edmond, retired the first 14 batters she faced. That would have been just 10 if not for a catch by Gibb in center that took a home run away from Lillian Erpelding-Wickman.

Gibb, a senior who was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a steal, had missed the last few games of the regular season with an injury. But she was inserted back into the lineup and her familiar place in center, and the Iowa Central softball signee stretched out and brought in the second out of the fourth with a spectacular catch.

“That was just an incredible play by an incredible player,” Shirbroun said. “It is great to have Lauren back in the lineup. She is not only special at the plate, but in the field as she showed (Wednesday night).”

St. Edmond scored all three of its runs in the fourth with two outs, highlighted by an RBI-double from senior Hadley Oswald that scored twin sister Ansley. In the fifth, Faith Shirbroun delivered a bases-clearing double to make it 7-0.

Helle doubled to begin the sixth as Sophia Schlienz and Ansley Oswald followed with singles. Crimmins, who came on to run for Helle, sprinted home when Andrews took a ball to center on a sacrifice fly.

Shirbroun, Ansley Oswald and Hadley Oswald each had two hits to join Myers and Gibb. Ella Vandi scored twice on the night.

For Bishop Garrigan (9-16), they lose seniors Molly Peterson, Hanna Merron and Zoe Montag from the roster.

ST. EDMOND 8, BISHOP GARRIGAN 0 (6 inn.)

Garrigan 000 000 — 0 1 2

St. Edmond 100 331 — 8 12 0

WP–Toryn Helle (13-5, 6 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 0 BB). LP–Addie Bartolo (4 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 K, 2 BB).

HR–SE: Mariah Myers. 2B–SE: Faith Shirbroun, Hadley Oswald, Mariah Myers, Toryn Helle. RBI–SE: Faith Shirbroun (3), Mariah Myers, Lauren Gibb, Liv Andrew, Hadley Oswald. SB–SE: Lauren Gibb.