Jul 13, 2025
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Faith Shirbroun of St. Edmond reacts after Toryn Helle strike out North Union during 1A semifinals on Saturday at Rogers Park
The seventh-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond softball team is back on the state tournament doorstep after a resounding 8-1 victory vs. North Union at Rogers Park on Saturday night.
Up next for the Gaels (23-10 overall) will be Remsen St. Mary’s back here in a 1A, Region 7 championship on Monday night at 7 p.m. The Hawks (16-7) upset No. 10 Akron-Westfield in the semifinals to advance, 13-12.
St. Edmond received six hits, five RBI, five runs scored and five steals from Faith Shirbroun, Mariah Myers and Lauren Gibb against the Warriors (22-8). Gibb drove in four and Shirbroun finished 3-for-3 with four runs scored, three steals and an RBI.
Shirbroun was also walked in her other plate appearance, while Myers — a University of Iowa commit — had a single before being intentionally walked three times.
“I’m very proud of the girls,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “I thought that was one of our better games we have played all year. They really went out there and took it to a very good North Union team that had a great record coming in.
“We were focused and we did what we had to do in order to advance.”
Toryn Helle received more than enough run support, allowing just five hits over seven innings of work inside the circle. The freshman again did not walk a batter, striking out six on the night.
“Toryn just continues to improve each and every single time she steps out there,” Shirbroun said. “She throws strikes and the defense makes plays behind her.”
Gibb and Helle both drove in runs in the first to get the Gaels on the board before they broke things open with three in the second. Shirbroun and Gibb each had RBI-singles
The lone blemish came in the fifth when Maisey Bierstedt doubled and scored on a sacrifice by Marissa Nielsen. Natalie Walders had two hits while Ainsley Ulrich recorded a double.
“I thought we did a nice job of staying patient at the plate and executing our plan,” Shirbroun said. “We wanted to use the bunt to force the action, which led to several runs for us.”
Gibb had her third straight at-bat with an RBI in the fourth, Myrah Lemon plated a run in the fifth and Gibb drove in Shirbroun for a fourth time in the sixth.
St. Edmond and Remsen St. Mary’s have played nine times since 2010, with the Gaels winning the first four. The Hawks have won four of the last five, including a 10-9 victory in 2023 at the state tournament.
ST. EDMOND 8, NORTH UNION 1
North Union 000 010 0 – 1 5 2
St. Edmond 230 111 x – 8 8 1
WP-Toryn Helle (14-5, 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB). LP-Ainley Ulrich (21-8, 3 ? IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB).
2B-NU: Maisey Bierstedt, Ainley Ulrich; SE: Faith Shirbroun. RBI-NU: Marissa Nielsen; SE: Faith Shirbroun, Lauren Gibb (4), Toryn Helle, Myrah Lemon. SB-SE: Mariah Myers (2), Faith Shirbroun (3).
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