Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond's Jade Rock fights off an inside pitch during the team’s Class 1A regional opener on Thursday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The third-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team made quick work out of AGWSR here Thursday one night after the regional quarterfinal was postponed due to weather.

Jade Rock’s RBI-double in the fourth ended the contest, sending the Gaels to a meeting Friday night vs. Collins-Maxwell back here at Rogers Park, 10-0.

Rock’s hit followed an RBI double from Rihanna Myers, as Myers went 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. The freshman hit a home run on Wednesday night, going deep after senior Faith Shirbroun cleared the fences.

“We did what we had to do,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “It wasn’t an ideal situation for anybody (to postponed the game), but we played it safe and did. Our girls came out and made sure there was nothing that was going to slow us down.

“Now we need to come back on Friday with that same kind of energy and focus.”

Toryn Helle picked up right where she left off, striking out the first two batters she faced as part of a run of six consecutive strikeouts. Helle finished with a two-hitter, improving to 18-4 on the season.

Shirbroun was 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, Rock drove in two runs on two hits, and Breckyn Ulrich had an RBI. Ella Vandi, Sophia Schlienz, Rock and Ulrich each scored a run. Vandi stole a base.

“I feel like we’ve kind of turned a corner here over the second half of the season with our lineup,” Shirbroun said. “Ella has really settled in at the leadoff, Sophia is doing a great job in the two spot, and the girls behind them are coming up with key hits when we need them.

“If we can keep that going, I like our chances.”

Eighth-grader Grace Crimmins had a hit in the third, with Vandi, Schlienz, Crimmins and Baylor Ulrich all reaching on walks. The Gael defense turned a double-play in the first inning of the contest.

St. Edmond (23-9 overall) and Collins-Maxwell (17-5) have played once before, with the Gaels scoring a 4-2 victory at the state softball tournament in 2024. The Spartans advanced with a 9-5 win over North Mahaska on Wednesday.

The winner between St. Edmond and Collins-Maxwell plays either Martensdale-St. Marys (14-15) or Ankeny Christian (22-3) on Monday for a spot in the elite eight at Rogers Park starting July 20.

ST. EDMOND 10, AGWSR 0 (4 inn.)

AGWSR 000 0 — 0 2 2

St. Edmond 530 2 — 10 11 1

WP–Toryn Helle (18-4, 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 1 BB). LP–Kaesyn Slifer (4-16, 1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 K, 4 BB).

HR–SE: Faith Shirbroun, Rihanna Myers. 2B–SE: Rihanna Myers (2), Ella Vandi, Jade Rock. RBI–SE: Ella Vandi, Sophia Schlienz, Faith Shirbroun (2), Rihanna Myers (3), Jade Rock (2), Breckyn Ulrich. SB–A: Cali Buseman, Kaitlynn Draeger; SE: Ella Vandi.