Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Returning letterwinners for the St. Edmond softball team are, front row, left to right: Faith Shirbroun, Sophia Schlienz and Myrah Lemon. Back row: Ella Vandi, Rihanna Myers, Toryn Helle, Breckyn Ulrich and Jade Rock.

Bill Shirbroun calls it the end of one era and the start of a new one.

The 2026 St. Edmond softball team will not feature the likes of Lauren Gibb, Hadley Oswald or Ansley Oswald for the first time since the 2020 season. Add in the graduation of current University of Iowa standout Mariah Myers, and some might feel like it is a rebuilding year for the Gaels.

Not Shirbroun.

“It’s what I would say is a new beginning,” Shirbroun said. “Faith (Shirbroun) is the only one left from that original group, and we are definitely going to have a tough time replacing four positions, but I like what we have coming back.

“Many of these girls are young, but they have played a lot of softball. And we’ve been busy the past couple of weekends taking them to tournaments to get them game-like experience in new positions.”

Shirbroun’s daughter, Faith, is a returning all-stater who has committed to continue her career with Kaiser University — a Top-10 NAIA program that reached the national tournament this spring.

A five-year starter, Shirbroun hit .451 with six home runs, 16 doubles, 53 runs scored, 37 stolen bases and 34 RBI last year. Those numbers are all tops among returning players for St. Edmond, which qualified for the Class 1A state tournament and placed fourth last summer.

Juniors Sophia Schlienz and Myrah Lemon, sophomore Toryn Helle and freshman Rihanna Myers were all starters alongside Shirbroun last year. Jade Rock, a 10th-grader, and ninth-graders Breckyn Ulrich and Ella Vandi each played in at least 16 games.

Helle became the ace of the pitching staff, going 15-5 with 106 strikeouts and an earned run average just over two. She also hit .353 with 10 extra-base hits and 25 RBI.

Schlienz had a .337 batting average, driving in 22, scoring 21 times and stealing 16 bases, Lemon hit over .300 with 20 RBI and Myers had nine extra-base hits with 24 runs scored and 18 steals.

Ulrich and Myers are also capable pitchers, as Ulrich went 5-4 while Myers averaged over a strikeout per inning worked.

“I really like our pitching staff,” Shirbroun said. “We know what we are getting in Toryn, but both Breckyn and Rihanna have really improved from last year. We’re working on moving Rihanna to shortstop (from second base to replace sister Mariah).

“We’ve got some options we can play with in terms of where we put everybody, but we really aren’t very deep.”

Vandi had 23 stolen bases and 33 runs scored in 2025. Rock recorded 15 steals and scored 16 runs with six RBI.

Sophomore Liv Andrew is recovering from offseason surgery. Classmate Greenlee Crimmins, freshman Grace Schlegel and eighth-graders Baylor Ulrich and Grace Crimmins round out the roster.

“We’ll have to see what we do when we get Liv back. She provides a big bat, so we’ll need to get her in the lineup,” Shirbroun said. “Greenlee played in a handful of games last year and Baylor has been working at catcher so far this preseason and has looked really good there.”

Under Shirbroun, the Gaels have won at least 20 games each of the past three seasons, recording four straight years above .500 for the first time since 2012-15. They have reached the state tournament each of the past three seasons, winning at least a share of the last four North Central Conference titles.

“We want to keep the good momentum we have created going,” Shirbroun said. “These girls all know what it takes; it’s just going to be a little different early on getting them into the groove of playing with one another.”

Shirbroun will once again be assisted by Bill Myers, Brian Maxson and Delainey Bargfrede, with Mariah Myers joining the staff as well. Bargfrede is currently a pitcher at Western Kentucky University and a former Webster City standout.

“Having Delainey back and adding in Mariah is just incredible,” Shirbroun said. “They can offer so many drills that will make the girls that much better.”

Roster

Senior — Faith Shirbroun.

Juniors — Sophia Schlienz, Myrah Lemon.

Sophomores — Greenlee Crimmins, Toryn Helle, Jade Rock, Liv Andrew.

Freshmen — Breckyn Ulrich, Ella Vandi, Grace Schlegel, Rihanna Myers.

Eighth-graders — Baylor Ulrich, Grace Crimmins.

Schedule

May 18 — at Saydel; May 19 — Eagle Grove; 25 — Newell-Fonda; 26 — at Saint Ansgar; 28 — Pocahontas Area; 29 — at Humboldt.

June 1 — at Iowa Falls-Alden; 2 — at Southeast Valley; 3 — Hampton-Dumont/CAL; 5 — at Webster City; 6 — at CYO vs. Bishop Heelan, Remsen St. Mary’s; 8 — Clear Lake; 10 — at Algona; 11 — GTRA; 12 — at Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; 13 — at Van Meter Tournament vs. Treynor, Van Meter; 15 — Iowa Falls-Alden; 17 — Humboldt; 18 — at Central Springs; 19 — at Jack North Tournament in Waukee vs. Urbandale, Bettendorf; 20 — at Jack North Tournament in Waukee vs. Pleasant Valley, Southeast Polk; 22 — at Hampton-Dumont/CAL; 24 — Webster City; 26 — at Clear Lake; 27 — host St. Edmond Invitational; 29 — Algona.

July 1 — Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; 2 — at North Union.