Softball | 1/30/2019 4:00:00 PM
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team slotted in at No. 5 in the Mountain East Conference North Division on Wednesday in the annual preseason poll of the league's coaches.
Coach
Herb Minch's youthful Hilltoppers were in a four-team group behind prohibitive favorite Shepherd in the division. The Rams earned 11 of the 12 first-place votes to amass 66 points in the balloting. Fairmont State was a distant second with 51 points, followed by Wheeling Jesuit (47), Notre Dame (35) and WLU (30). Urbana rounded out the North with 17 points.
West Virginia Wesleyan edged out returning MEC Tournament champion West Virginia State for the top spot in the South. Wesleyan had 5 first-place votes and 60 points while State picked up 7 first-place votes and 59 points. UVa-Wise (44) was next, followed by Charleston (35), Concord (32) and Glenville State (16).
The Hilltoppers open their season on Feb. 8 with two games in the Huntsville (Ala.) Invitational. West Liberty takes on Missouri-St. Louis at noon with a 4 p.m. game against Shorter (Ga.) to follow.
SOFTBALL
2019 MEC Coaches' Preseason Poll
North Division
1. Shepherd (11) 66
2. Fairmont State (1) 51
3. Wheeling Jesuit 47
4. Notre Dame 35
5. WEST LIBERTY 30
6. Urbana 17
South Division
1. W.Va. Wesleyan (5) 60
2. W.Va. State (7) 59
3. UVa-Wise 44
4. Charleston 35
5. Concord 32
6. Glenville State 16
