The St. Edmond softball team ran into Martensdale-St. Marys for the second consecutive state tournament.

And for the second straight time, the Gaels could not get their prolific offense going.

The Blue Devils scored a run in the second and another in the third to post a 2-1 victory here Wednesday night at Rogers Park, advancing to the Class 1A state championship for a second straight year. Martensdale-St. Marys (30-6 overall) will meet Sigourney here Friday at 7:30 p.m. for gold on Channel Seeds Field.

Last year, the Blue Devils posted a 1-0 win in the quarterfinals over the St. Edmond (26-6) on their way to reaching the finals and placing second.

“We just didn’t take advantage of the situations we had,” SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun said. “I’m disappointed in that. In games like this, you have to want it more and you have to execute better. We didn’t do those two things and it hurt us.”

The Gaels will play Southeast Warren at 6 p.m. Friday on Iowa Central Field for third. They have reached the state semifinals three times now, securing bronze in their other two tournaments.

“I told them after to keep their heads up because we still have something to play for,” Shirbroun said. “We’ll be ready to go Friday night. Of course I’d like to be playing for the championship but third is also a big deal.”

Campbell German, a University of South Dakota recruit, recorded 13 strikeouts and allowed just two hits — a single by University of Iowa commit Mariah Myers to start the game, and an RBI single in the seventh by Ansley Oswald. German had multiple strikeouts in four innings.

“Her change-up was her strikeout pitch,” Shirbroun said of German. “We just couldn’t lay off it and adjust as the game went on.”

Sydney Bears doubled and scored in the second on a single by Maryann Hart for the first run. Brynnlyn German, also a USD recruit, scored in the third on a hit by her sister, Campbell.

Bears, one of several returning starters from last summer, had two hits and a stolen base. Brynlynn German was the only other Blue Devil to reach base twice.

In the seventh, the Gaels came to life. Ignited by a boisterous crowd in the stands, Kaili Henning worked a walk. Myrah Lemon came on to run and scored when Ansley Oswald connected on a ball that just got past Abby Hughes.

Henning, the lone senior on the roster for St. Edmond, had eight strikeouts and retired the final 11 batters she faced.