[5/15/03]Former Warren Central baseball star Joey Lieberman and St. Aloysius star Aaron George have found a new home on Meridian Community College’s baseball team.

The two players began the year hitting second and third, respectively, in the Eagles’ lineup before an early-season injury sidelined Lieberman.

In MCC’s fourth game of the year, third baseman Van Pope stopped a slow grounder and threw the ball to Lieberman at first base. The throw was off-target and Lieberman broke his wrist colliding with the runner.

In three games, Lieberman was 4-of-9 with a home run and four RBIs. He has been redshirted this season because of the injury.

“It was a huge loss for our team,” MCC coach Michael Federico said. “He was hitting in the two-hole for us, and we were expecting big things from him.”

While Lieberman’s injury was a source of disappointment, George has made up for it.

Batting third in the lineup, the former St. Aloysius standout is hitting .345 and is third on the team with 12 home runs and tied for first with 45 RBIs this season.

“He’s been a huge bat for us in the middle of the lineup,” Federico said. “He’s worked really hard this season and has matured a lot as a baseball player.”

George catches for the Eagles when ace pitcher Todd Doolittle is on the mound, and plays first base or designated hitter when someone else is throwing.

“He floats back and forth depending on who’s pitching,” Federico said. “He and (Doolittle) have a good relationship and work well together.”

George has helped lead Meridian (37-16) to the Region 23 title over Gulf Coast (32-19) last weekend, and the winner of this weekend’s matchup between MCC and Faulk- ner State advances to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Col.

Another former Viking, Carl Upton, pitches for Faulkner State. He is 6-3 on the season.

It was unclear whether Upton would get a start against Meridian. He and Lieberman graduated from WC a year ago. Both were key parts of the Vikings’ 2001 Class 5A state championship team.

George was a member of St. Aloysius’ run to the Class 1A state championship series a season ago.

“We’re playing well right now,” Federico said. “We’ve got a bunch of hungry guys with a desire to play at the next level, and we’re two games away from doing that.”