BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Wheeling and Concord have been tabbed by the league coaches as the preseason favorites for the 2022 Mountain East Conference baseball season.

Wheeling is the pick to successfully defend its North Division title after finishing with 63 points (eight first-place votes). In addition to the team's first divisional title, the Cardinals are coming off a school-record 27 wins. Wheeling returns several key players who earned All-MEC honors last spring in Chris Lazetta, Jacob Murray and Riley Cameron. 

West Liberty was slotted second in the division with 45 points, followed by Fairmont State with 39 points (one first-place vote). Frostburg State collected a pair of first-place votes and was picked fourth with 38 points, and Notre Dame was next with 37 points and one first-place vote. Alderson Broaddus rounded out the divisional poll with 24 points.

Concord was the top pick in a close vote in the South Division finishing with 57 points (seven first-place votes), just ahead of West Virginia State (56 points, four first-place votes) and Charleston (53 points, one first-place vote). Glenville State finished fourth in the poll with 38 points, followed by Davis & Elkins (25) and West Virginia Wesleyan (17).
 
 The Golden Eagles finished 2021 with a record of 33-13 and a 24-4 conference record. This was good enough for a regular season MEC Title a chance to host the first ever Atlantic Regional in Charleston history. 
 
The Golden Eagles are going to have to rely on some young talent to lead the team's success this spring after losing five bats from the starting lineup and six pitchers. Some key returners include Braxton Boddorf (SS), Tyler Dellerman (C/1B), Bryce Toussaint (3B/2B), Pete Costigan (OF), and Eric Chartier (INF/OF).
 
Redshirt Junior Braxton Boddorf will return as both a power and speed threat. He boasted a 1.009 OPS, 37 RBI and 32 BB in 46 games played with a team leading four triples, along with 17 stolen bases. Former MEC Freshman of the Year Tyler Dellerman will also be back in 2022. The Redshirt Junior was named Pre-Season Atlantic Region Honorable Mention and led the Golden Eagles with 15 doubles last year. He also added six home runs along with 34 RBI.
 
Senior Peter Costigan will look to add a veteran attitude within the clubhouse this year as the Golden Eagle squad will undoubtedly be a bit inexperienced toward the beginning of the year. Transfer Bryce Toussaint was a big part of the 2021 campaign after earning playing time toward the middle of the year. The Senior infielder recorded a .317 average along with 10 doubles and a .826 OPS.  The Redshirt Senior outfielder posted a .310 batting average with 34 RBIs and a .743 OPS in 41 games played. Redshirt Sophomore Eric Chartier will be a big addition to the Golden Eagle lineup as well. In limited action last year the Canadian Eric Chartier boasted an .804 OPS, with one home run.
 
On the pitching side Robbie Britt's Golden Eagles will return transfer Jackson Mandella who saw limited action last year but posted a team low 1.64 ERA with five strikeouts in 11.0 innings pitched. All-Region Selection Colt Webb will also return to the 2022 roster after boasting a 4.37 ERA in 12 appearances with 61 Ks to boot. Relievers Dane Sykes and Caleb Rush will also add big innings in the front end of the UC bullpen this spring. They both showcase lively fastballs that they will look to throw up in the zone to entice hitters to whiff early and late in counts.
 
Also returning is Owen MacNeil (4.09 ERA in 11 innings) and sophomore Zane Lattig who struck out 23 batters in 24 innings.

Full Rankings

 

MEC North Division
1.	Wheeling (8)	63
2.	West Liberty	45
3.	Fairmont State (1)	39
4.	Frostburg State (2)	38
5.	Notre Dame (1)	37
6.	Alderson Broaddus	24

 

MEC South Division
1.	Concord (7)	57
2.	W.Va. State (4)	56
3.	Charleston (1)	53
4.	Glenville State	38
5	Davis & Elkins	25
6.	W.Va. Wesleyan	17