VIDALIA — It was the Preston Edwards show in the first game of the Salem-Cathedral Region 8-1A doubleheader Monday afternoon.

Edwards was 2-2 with a walk, a single, a grand slam and 6 RBIs and led the Green Wave to a 14-3 victory over Salem.

Edwards also had 11 strikeouts and only gave up one hit in his five-inning pitching performance.

The game was the first of a doubleheader that was played in Vidalia due to a scheduling conflict with Natchez High.

Both teams use Chester Willis Field in the regular season.

“We would like to thank Vidalia and Coach Hoffpauir for allowing us to use their field for our games,” Cathedral head coach Craig Beesley said.

Cathedral scored five runs in the first inning to take an early lead over the Wildcats.

In the second inning the first three batters reached base when Edwards came up to bat and knocked a grand slam out of the park.

“Preston played outstanding tonight for us,” Beesley said.

The Green Wave went on to score a total of eight runs in the inning to take a 13-0 lead.

Salem scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning, but it wasn’t near enough to overcome Cathedral.

Edwards was the winning pitcher for the Green Wave.

Nathan Bond picked up the loss for the Wildcats.

Braxton Fondren was 1-1 with a double and three walks on the night for Cathedral.

Garreth Murphy was 1-2 with a double and a walk for Salem.

Cathedral 8, Salem 5

The second game of the doubleheader was closer, but Cathedral still prevailed thanks to a strong fifth inning offensive performance.

Edwards hit a triple in the first inning that knocked in Jesse Morrison to give Cathedral a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning.

Salem answered though and scored two runs in the bottom of the first to show the Green Wave they weren’t going out without a fight.

“Salem played good in the second game,” Beesley said. “Hopefully we’re going to be able to get a rhythm going soon.”

Cathedral scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take an 8-3 lead and gave the Wildcats a tough wall to climb.

Salem scored two runs with only one out in the final inning and had two runners on base to give the Green Wave a scare, but Daniel Jenkins struck out the last two Wildcat batters to end the game.

Daniel Jenkins picked up the win for Cathedral.

Trey Pizant was handed the loss for the Wildcats.

Caleb Johson was 3-3 with three singles and two RBI’s for Cathedral while Nathan Bond was 2-2 for Salem with two singles.