It's been some kind of season for Mary Star High baseball.

For the second time in three years, the Stars wrapped up the Camino Real League championship with an 8-2 victory over visiting St. Bernard of Playa Del Rey this past Monday at Fromhold Field in San Pedro. Senior P/INF Derrick Edwards had a magnificent day at the plate in hitting a pair of home runs.

"I was pretty excited and the fact that I came through for my team in a league game just made it even more special," Edwards said of his two home-run game.

Although the league title was clinched officially on Friday, May 1 with a St. Bernard loss to Bishop Montgomery of Torrance on the same day Mary Star (19-6 overall, 10-1 league) suffered their only league defeat, 7-6 to Cantwell Sacred Heart of Montebello, the Stars have won eight of their last nine games, and three in a row with the victory over the Vikings.

"Our victory on Monday was huge," said Mary Star junior center fielder Gianfranco Gentile. "We beat them with teamwork, as everyone contributed to the win."

The Stars have had some nice victories during this run in winning all three battles with Bishop Montgomery, including a classic 5-0, 11-inning victory two months ago in which the Stars broke out of a scoreless tie with a five-run top of the 11th inning. Mary Star also owns victories over North Torrance, St. Anthony of Long Beach and crosstown neighbor Port Of Los Angeles among other impressive victories.

Mary Star has now won 14 total league championships, with their best season to date coming back in 2002 when the Stars made a marvelous and surprising run to a CIF-Southern Section championship game.

On Wednesday in their season finale, Mary Star can cap off a 20-win season and knock the Vikings out of the playoffs to boot when they meet a third and final time at St. Bernard High. Coach Andy Fiamengo's team however, remain undaunted and focused on what they're out to accomplish.

"As a team we try to treat every game as a championship game and put our best effort forward," Edwards said. "I think the key for us is to simply just play our game and enjoy whatever goals we achieve after the game is over."