NATCHEZ — Cathedral senior Preston Edwards might not have accomplished the team goal he wanted to in the 2009 baseball season, but he was rewarded with quite an individual honor.

Edwards was selected to the MHSAA 1A-3A All-Star Game, which will take place on June 6 at Trustmark Park in Pearl.

Edwards was also selected to first team All-State as a pitcher.

Green Wave coach Craig Beesley said it was a well-deserved honor.

“The last two years, he has been a dominant pitcher in 1A baseball,” Beesley said. “He made the All-State team as a junior and senior, and this year was selected to the All-Star Game. He is well respected around the state.”

Edwards had a 10-2 record with a 2.25 ERA in his senior season. He struck out 75 batters and allowed just 23 hits in 40 2/3 innings.

He also batted .446 with seven homers and 32 RBIs in helping the Green Wave go 21-0 in the regular season.

Beesley said Edwards being on the mound always gave the team confidence they would win.

“We knew when we had him on the mound if we could just score a few runs here or there, we’d have a chance to win,” Beesley said. “We know he would keep the other team down. It was a confidence booster for our whole team when he was on the mound.”

Edwards said his senior year was generally successful, but still lamented Cathedral’s second round playoff loss to eventual state champion St. Aloysius.

“I wish I could have done a little more,” Edwards said. “It was a good thing we got beat out by the state champions, but it was still a downer that we didn’t make it that far.”

Edwards, who will play baseball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College next year, said the key to his success on the mound was his confidence.

“It’s all about having confidence and not getting down on yourself,” Edwards said. “When the team makes an error, you’ve got to keep your head up and keep going at it.”

And Beesley said Cathedral will miss that confidence and skill on the mound next season.

“When you lose somebody as dominant as he was on the mound, you definitely need some other people to step up,” Beesley said. “We’ve got some underclassmen coming back, but I don’t think we’ll have another like Preston.”