An early lead held up for the eighth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team here Thursday night at Rogers Park.

Rihanna Myers had a home run in the second to spark a four-run inning, as the Gaels held off Pocahontas Area, 5-4.

St. Edmond’s (4-0 overall) Toryn Helle got the final out on her sixth strikeout of the night with the tying run on third for the Indians (1-1). Helle allowed eight hits and two earned runs, while going 3-for-4 at the plate to help her own cause.

“That’s a really good team in Pocahontas Area and a really good win for us,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “Toryn pitched a heck of a game and we made some big defensive plays when we needed them.”

One of those came in the seventh, when Ella Vandi made a diving stop of a ball from her position at second base and flipped the ball to Myers.

“That was one of the best defensive plays I’ve ever seen on a softball field,” Shirbroun said. “I’m not sure how Ella stopped it and got it to (Myers) for the out. It really was a big play.”

The Gaels scored what would eventually be the game-winning run in the fourth when Myers drove in Vandi, who had reached on a base hit earlier in the inning.

In all, St. Edmond had 12 hits and six walks, but left 13 runners on base.

“We’ve got to continue to work to do the little things,” Shirbroun said. “It’s not going to be easy on offense, so it’s important that we get bunts down, move runners and remain aggressive.”

For Pocahontas Area, Katie Rierson, Emma Sobotka and Zoanne Kerns each had two hits. Lauren Hoover, Sobotka and Kerns all drove in a run.

Hoover struck out six inside the circle.

Myers and Jade Rock both had two hits for St. Edmond. Rock drove in a run and scored one.

Myrah Lemon contributed a hit, an RBI and two walks.

The Gaels return to North Central Conference play on Friday night at Humboldt. The Indians head to the Jesup Classic on Saturday.

ST. EDMOND 5, POCAHONTAS AREA 4

Pocahontas Area 000 120 1 — 4 8 2

St. Edmond 040 100 x — 5 12 5

WP–Toryn Helle (7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 6 K, 0 BB). LP–Lauren Hoover (6 IP, 12 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 6 BB).

HR–SE: Rihanna Myers. 3B–PAC: Emma Sobotka. 2B–PAC: Jadyn Gerdes. RBI–PAC: Lauren Hoover, Emma Sobotka, Zoanne Kerns; SE: Myrah Lemon, Ella Vandi, Rihanna Myers (2), Jade Rock.