Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond senior Faith Shirbroun reacts against Clarion-Goldfield/Dows on Wednesday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The St. Edmond softball program recognized lone senior Faith Shirbroun here on Wednesday.

Shirbroun, who will hold virtually every Gael career hitting record by the time she is finished playing, earned the win inside the circle and recorded two hits with two RBI and a run scored as No. 3 (Class 1A) St. Edmond rolled past Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 13-1 in four innings at Rogers Park.

“Faith is just a special player,” said Bill Shirbroun, SEHS head coach and Faith’s dad. “She’s put in the work to reach this level and deserves to be recognized for it. I know she has dealt with a lot of pressure during her career — especially from me — but she has lived up to it.

“I’m happy we were able to give her another memorable moment on the diamond.”

The Gaels (22-9 overall, 11-3 in the North Central Conference) are hopeful to have many more opportunities to compete at Rogers Park in their future, as they would host throughout the upcoming regional tournament in a pursuit of a school-record fourth consecutive state appearance.

Shirbroun made her first pitching start since her sophomore season, recording a strikeout with a walk allowed. She was relieved by Sophia Schlienz, who pitched three innings of two-hit ball, striking out three.

At the plate, Shirbroun, Ella Vandi, Rihanna Myers, Jade Rock, Myrah Lemon and Greenlee Crimmins each had two hits, with Lemon driving in three. Schlienz and Rock both had two RBI, as Rock scored three times and Crimmins twice.

“I thought we did a nice job of staying patient at the plate,” Shirbroun said. “It can be tough going against a pitcher who doesn’t throw hard after some of the ones we have seen here lately, but they stayed in there and waited for the right pitch to go after.

“We had a clean defensive game and Sophia did a nice job pitching.”

As for his daughter entering the circle, that was a team-led decision.

“The girls thought it would be fun for Faith to start there,” Shirbroun said. “We talked about it and she went through her warmups and did OK. We didn’t really have a plan going in for how long she would go, but it was fun to give her one last pitching start.”

All nine batters in the Gael lineup recorded at least one hit, and eight of the nice scored a run, with Grace Schlegel also cross home plate. Myers stole two bases, while Lemon, Schlienz and Rock each swiped one.

For the Cowgirls (3-20, 0-14), Marlee Thompson drove in Harper Nerlien for the lone run.

St. Edmond will close out the regular season Thursday at North Union. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows opens 2A regional play on Monday at Belmond-Klemme.

ST. EDMOND 13, CLARION-GOLDFIELD/DOWS 1 (4 inn.)

C-G/D 010 0 — 1 2 1

St. Edmond 724 x — 13 15 0

WP–Faith Shirbroun (1-0, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 BB). LP–Adelynn Howell (3 IP, 15 H, 8 ER, 0 K, 2 BB). S–Sophia Schlienz (3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 2 BB).

3B–SE: Ella Vandi. 2B–SE: Myrah Lemon, Breckyn Ulrich. RBI–CGD: Marlee Thompson; SE: Faith Shirbroun (2), Ella Vandi, Sophia Schlienz (2), Rihanna Myers, Jade Rock (2), Myrah Lemon (3), Breckyn Ulrich. SB–SE: Myrah Lemon, Sophia Schlienz, Rihanna Myers (2), Jade Rock.