BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Frostburg State and West Virginia Wesleyan have been picked to win divisional championships during the 2023 Mountain East Conference softball season following a vote of the league’s head coaches.
 
Frostburg State has been picked to win the MEC North Division in 2023 after sharing the crown with West Liberty last spring with matching 22-10 records in conference play. The Lady Bobcats received 61 points and six first-place votes during preseason balloting to lead the division. Fairmont State and West Liberty tied for second in the preseason voting with 52 points apiece. The Falcons received four first-place votes, while West Liberty received the final two first-place tallies.
 
Fairmont State won the 2022 MEC Tournament Championship after entering tournament play as the third seed out of the north division. West Liberty finished 35-21-1 during the 2022 season and had a 22-10 record in conference play, as the Hilltoppers shared last spring’s north division title.
 
North Dame College finished fourth in the north division poll with 37 points, followed by Wheeling (25) and Alderson Broaddus (19) rounding out the poll.
 
In the south division, defending champion West Virginia Wesleyan finished first in the preseason voting with 63 points and nine first-place votes. The Lady Bobcats went 38-18-1 in 2022 and finished as the MEC Tournament runner-up. The Lady Bobcats went 23-7 in league play last season and advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Region finals. Charleston was voted to finish second in the south division with 56 points and three first-place votes. UC went 28-23 a season ago.
 
West Virginia State was picked third in the south division with 44 points, followed by Davis & Elkins (36), Glenville State (29) and Concord (18).
 
The MEC softball season is slated to begin with non-conference play on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Conference play opens on Saturday, March 18.
 
2023 Mountain East Conference Softball Preseason Poll
NORTH DIVISION
1. Frostburg State (6) – 61
T2. Fairmont State (4) – 52
T2. West Liberty (2) – 52
4. Notre Dame – 37
5. Wheeling – 25
6. Alderson Broaddus – 19
 
SOUTH DIVISION
1. West Va. Wesleyan (9) – 63
2. Charleston (3) – 56
3. West Virginia State – 44
4. Davis & Elkins – 36
5. Glenville State – 29
6. Concord – 18
 
( ) – First-place votes