Heading into the last game of the season against Salem today, the Cathedral Green Wave baseball team is riding a seven game winning streak and is flawless in district play.

Part of the reason for Cathedral’s strong overall record of 17-4 and a 9-0 district record has been the performances of senior Patrick McDonough and sophomore Preston Edwards on the pitching mound.

McDonough, who is 9-0 on the mound this season, has been nearly untouchable, giving up only three runs off 14 hits. He has also struck out 88 batters, and maintains a 0.27 earned run average.

McDonough, 18, said he has gone to Cathedral since preschool and has played baseball ever since he moved up from T-ball.

“I love playing baseball. I love the game,” McDonough said. “I’ve loved it since I was little.”

But his love for baseball sometimes is contingent on the sporting season. In the fall, pitching and playing center field take a back seat to playing the quarterback position for the Green Wave football team.

“I like both (football and baseball) about the same. It just depends what season I am in,” McDonough said.

Away from the athletic fields, McDonough said he enjoys hanging out with friends, hunting and fishing. He said his parents, Pat and Debbie McDonough, and younger brother Joseph have always been supportive.

Currently McDonough is in the process of completing his senior year, and is preparing for college, once he decides on one. He said at this point he is not sure which direction he wants to head.

“I am thinking about Mississippi College, but I am really not sure.”

Edwards, a sophomore, has also been making a name for himself this season. After taking over the number two spot from Daniel Jenkins, who went out earlier in the season with arm problems, Edwards has gone 6-3 from the mound, struck out 61 batters and maintains an ERA of 1.87.

Like McDonough, he has attended Cathedral all of his academic life and has been playing baseball since moving up from T-ball as well. He added that he has been pitching about as long.

Also like his senior teammate, Edwards plays the quarterback and defensive back positions on the Green Wave football team.

“I like football better, but I think I am better at baseball,” he said.

Edwards said he likes playing the quarterback position because of having to know what to do at all times and where to throw the ball. Edwards said he also likes football because he likes hitting people.

Off the field Edwards said he enjoys fishing and his favorite academic subject, physical education, and said eventually he would like to play college ball in Mississippi or Louisiana.

Edwards is the son of Paula and Duke Edwards. He also said he has one older sister, Caroline, 21, who is currently attending Mississippi State.