Playing in a slow-pitch all-star game will be kind of odd for Warren Central graduate Kari Lieberman.

The former Lady Vike will suit up for the South All-Stars in the Mississippi Association of Coaches’ Class 4A/5A slow-pitch all-star game today at Newton County High School.

On Saturday, St. Aloysius’ Sarah Kerut will play in the Class 1A/2A/3A fast-pitch All-Star game, also at Newton County High which is located outside of Decatur.

For Lieberman, the best thing about the outing will be getting to meet some new friends.

&#8220It’s a chance to meet some new people. The only one I know is Sarah Kerut. I’m happy she’s going to be there because we’ve become good friends over the past year,” Lieberman said.

The trip to Newton County may also give her a chance to meet some students who will be going to Meridian Community College. That’s where Lieberman has a scholarship to play soccer this fall. She’ll also play for the Lady Eagles’ fast-pitch softball team in the spring.

&#8220I’ve been trying to get ready for soccer and now I have this softball game which is going be like a pickup game for me,” Lieberman said.

Last fall, Lieberman played second base for the Lady Vikes’ slow-pitch team. In the spring, she moved to the outfield for the fast-pitch team. She did not play soccer, a sport where she had been a three-year All-County selection as a forward and midfielder.

&#8220I needed a break from soccer but I also got to play with some great girls on our softball team. It was a different set of girls. But now I’m looking forward to playing soccer again at Meridian,” she said.

She’ll have a handful of friends joining her on the Lady Eagles squad in the fall. Vicksburg High’s Crystal Davidson, Jill Rush and Holly Head, along with WC’s Chelsa Jones, all signed to play soccer at Meridian.

&#8220Me and Chelsa have played together forever and Crystal is really a long time friend. Holly is the only one I haven’t played with before,” Lieberman said. &#8220We’ve already started training. We had a startup practice earlier this month at MCC and we’ve got another one in July. Then in August, we start practice full time.”

MCC’s soccer season runs from late August into October. After it ends, Lieberman will get her glove and bat out and start working with the fast-pitch team.

&#8220I think I did pretty well this season with fast-pitch and I had some good numbers batting in slow-pitch, but I could’ve been better,” she said.

For Kerut, Saturday’s fast-pitch all-star games will represent one more time to suit up. She is going to Mississippi State in the fall to pursue a degree in biological engineering.

The two-time Vicksburg Post fast-pitch Player of the Year will play for the South All-Stars. Last spring, she led St. Al to the Class 1A playoffs, hitting .371 with 29 RBIs. She also went 6-1 as a pitcher.

&#8220I haven’t played anything since the season ended. I went out last week and watched the upcoming St. Al team play in a summer league game and that got me excited about this weekend,” Kerut said.

Kerut said she doesn’t expect to have to pitch in Saturday’s doubleheader.

&#8220My preference is to play second base. That’s where I’ll feel more comfortable,” she said.