Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond players hoist their Class 1A regional softball championship banner together on Monday night at Rogers Park. The third-ranked Gaels overwhelmed Martensdale-St. Marys, 12-2. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Monday night was officially final home game for St. Edmond senior Faith Shirbroun, but she has another week to keep playing with her teammates at Rogers Park.

Shirbroun went 4-for-4 with two home runs and two more that just missed leaving the park, leading the third-ranked (Class 1A) Gaels to a fourth consecutive state tournament appearance for the first time in school history with a 12-2 win over Martensdale-St. Marys in six innings.

St. Edmond (25-9 overall) will take on No. 10 Remsen St. Mary’s back here on Monday at Farm Bureau Field in the state quarterfinal round at 6:45 p.m.

Freshman Rihanna Myers ended the contest with a three-run homer, setting off a wild celebration. Sophomore Jade Rock also went deep in the rout, as the Gaels pounded out 12 hits to earn their first win in three tries all-time against the Blue Devils (15-16).

Shirbroun has been a key player in all four regional championships, setting virtually every career hitting category for the program. The Keiser University recruit now has 35 home runs, 146 RBI, 222 runs scored, 57 doubles, 219 hits and 413 total bases in her five years at St. Edmond.

“I’m so happy we have extended our season (into state again),” Shirbroun said. “State is so much fun. I can’t wait to experience it again with all my teammates at home.”

Rock, Ella Vandi and Sophia Schlienz each had two hits, as Rock and Schlienz drove in two. Rock’s first-inning homer was the first of her career.

Myers finished with four RBI. Vandi also drove in a run and had a triple with two runs scored.

Inside the circle, Toryn Helle struck out three with one walk and seven hits, as both runs scored by Martensdale-St. Marys were unearned. She is now 20-4 on the year and 39-10 in her three-year career.

“That was just about a perfect game,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “Our offense was clicking, the defense made incredible plays, and Toryn was on. Rihanna had so many plays (defensively) that were impressive.”

One of those web gems came in the sixth when she took away a run for the Blue Devils with a diving catch just behind the pitching circle. Moments later, Myers came to bat and crushed her seventh homer of the year.

“I’m just so proud of the girls,” Bill Shirbroun said. “We had to replace four key (graduated) starters (from 2025) who were important pieces to what we have built here. But these girls came in and had one goal in mind — and they achieved that.”

Martensdale-St. Marys had twice before topped St. Edmond in state tournament games, winning 2-1 here in 2024 and 1-0 the year before. The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the first, putting the Gaels behind just like last Friday in the regional semifinals vs. AGWSR.

“We’ve all played so many softball games, I don’t think we were concerned when we got down,” Faith Shirbroun said. “We were confident in what we could do. We’re good at building momentum and keeping it going.”

ST. EDMOND 12, MARTENSDALE-ST. MARYS 2 (6 inn.)

MSM 100 010 — 2 7 1

St. Edmond 301 503 — 12 12 1

WP–Toryn Helle (20-4, 6 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 1BB). LP–Maclaine German (10-9, 5• IP, 12 H, 9 ER, 2 K, 2 BB).

HR–SE: Faith Shirbroun (2), Jade Rock, Rihanna Myers. 2B–MSM: Hayley Parker; SE: Faith Shirbroun, Sophia Schlienz. RBI–MSM: Lilly Gibbons; SE: Ella Vandi, Sophia Schlienz (2), Faith Shirbroun (3), Rihanna Myers (4), Jade Rock (2).