Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Sophia Schlienz secures a catch for St. Edmond on Wednesday at Rogers Park against Webster City. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Bill Shirbroun saw too many game-changing moments to narrow it down to just one that helped his third-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team hold off Webster City here Wednesday night at Rogers Park, 5-4.

Faith Shirbroun hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth, Sophia Schlienz made a spectacular catch in center to rob a batter of extra bases to begin the seventh, and Toryn Helle struck out nine as the Gaels (20-6 overall, 10-1 inthe North Central Conference) remained tied atop the league standings by topping the red-hot Lynx.

“That was a really good win against a team in Webster City that has been playing great softball as of late,” Shirbroun said. “They have the win over Carlisle, they beat Clear Lake, so we knew it was going to be a battle. I’m proud of all the girls for stepping up.

“Faith hits a two-run bomb, Sophia comes up big with that catch, Toryn was strong and the defense — despite a few mistakes — made some tremendous plays.”

Shirbroun — who added to her school-record home run total of 31 — finished 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored, three steals and a walk. Schlienz had two hits and scored a run with a steal, as Ella Vandi drove in two.

For the Lynx (10-10, 5-5), Jaylyn Bahrenfuss had two hits and drove in a run, as Jakaela Cherry and Hayden McCoy each recorded an RBI.

“I felt like our offense was really strong, especially at the top of the order,” Shirbroun said. “Even if they did manage to tie it there in the seventh, I was confident we would come up with another big hit.”

St. Edmond scored one in the second on an RBI by Breckyn Ulrich and two more in the third when Vandi drove in both Shirbroun and Greenlee Crimmins, who was running for Helle.

Webster City answered with three runs in the fourth, as Cherry and McCoy each had an RBI double, with Haydin Sealine driving in the third run.

“They have a really good lineup, so to keep them off the board for three innings was huge for Toryn,” Shirbroun said. “They kept battling, though, and that’s what a good offense does to you. They fouled off a lot of pitches and eventually put some runs on the board.

“We came right back and took control of the game, which shows the experience we have and continue to gain.”

In the fifth, Shirbroun locked in on the first pitch she saw, driving it over the fence in left-center to also plate Schlienz, who doubled to open the inning. The senior and Keiser University commit broke the school record for career home runs on Monday at Hampton-Dumont/CAL.

The Lynx would get a run back in the seventh when Morgan Tempel reached on an error, stole second and third, and scored on a single by Bahrenfuss.

St. Edmond now heads to No. 12 (3A) Clear Lake on Friday night looking to complete the season sweep after winning earlier this year, 12-8. Webster City hosts 11th-ranked (3A) Algona that same evening.

ST. EDMOND 5, WEBSTER CITY 4

Webster City 000 300 1 — 4 7 1

St. Edmond 012 020 x — 5 7 4

WP–Toryn Helle (17-3, 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 9 K, 1 BB). LP–Jakaela Cherry (5-5, 6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 K, 2 BB).

HR–SE: Faith Shirbroun. 2B–WC: Hayden McCoy, Jakaela Cherry; SE: Sophia Schlienz. RBI–WC: Jaylyn Bahrenfuss, Jakaela Cherry, Hayden McCoy, Haydin Sealine; SE: Faith Shirbroun (2), Ella Vandi (2), Breckyn Ulrich. SB–WC: Briley VanDeer, Tessa Hansen (2), Morgan Hackbarth; SE: Sophia Schlienz, Rihanna Myers, Faith Shirbroun (3), Greenlee Crimmins.