The Mountain East Conference baseball and softball conference schedules are supposed to begin this weekend -- if the weather cooperates.

While Saturday's scheduled softball games at Concord are in serious danger of needing to be rescheduled, there were still three inches of snow covering the field Wednesday, the baseball games scheduled to be played at Cal Bailey Field look to have a better chance of actually being played.

Both Yellow Jacket squads have played several early season contests against non-conference foes in preparation.

Softball heads into MEC action with a 14-8 mark while baseball stands at 7-5. Pretty good records considering that in the early part of the season facing tough competition and learning about new players and lineups is as much of a priority as winning.

"That's the idea," WVSU Baseball Coach Sean Loyd said. "You want to play the best competition you can to get ready."

Especially when you have as many new players in the lineup as the baseball team.

"We lost three-fourths of our starting pitchers, our closer, an All-Conference right fielder, and our starting centerfielder," Loyd said. "At times we play really well, we are still trying to find out who can do what."

Senior right-hander Tyler Hall (at left) anchors the pitching staff. Junior Colby Gainer has moved from the bullpen into the starting rotation. Combined they have started eight of the Yellow Jackets' first 12 games.

Sophomores Kip Brewer and Hunter Bradley have split the other four starts and also appeared in relief. Darrell Render and Jonathon Murphy have each come into games and picked up a win.

Junior college transfer Tyrel Panter seems to be the leader for the closer spot with two saves in five appearances so far.

Leadoff hitter Brandon Wright is pacing the squad with a .313 batting average. He, junior Matt Washington, senior Phil Mandt, and freshman Chris Jordan have started all 12 WVSU games.

Washington and Mandt are supplying most of the power. Washington is hitting .300 with four home runs and nine RBI. Mandt is batting .297 with three home runs and 12 RBI.

That quartet has composed the infield most of the spring with Washington at third, Jordan at shortstop, Wright at second, and Mandt at first.

Junior Trayvis Patterson has started all 10 games he has been available for and is hitting .286.

Freshman Chris Ruppenthal was hot at the plate last weekend going 4-for-9 to raies his season average to .444 in 27 at bats.

They handled left and right field respectively last weekend. Freshman Jared Hunt has been starting in centerfield recently.

Wright, Mandt (at left), and Patterson are the only position players back from a year ago.

There are still plenty of questions to be answered but that will not change the schedule.

"Our conference is going to be good," Loyd said. "Starting with Shepherd is tough."

The Rams are the defending MEC champs and the coaches' pick to win the Northern Division this season.

WVSU was runner-up last season after winning the first two MEC titles and was picked by the coaches to win the Southern Division this year.

The teams are favored to meet for the MEC crown for a third straight time.

"In the end its going to come down to what it always does," Loyd said. "Do you have guys who can pitch, can you field, and can you hit?"

Those questions will all be answered over the coming weeks.