Ohio University center fielder and Mayfield graduate Mitch Longo leads the Mid-American Conference with a .426 batting average.

A senior with the same last name might prevent one of the MAC's rising stars from earning a conference batting title as a freshman.

Eastern Michigan senior Lee Longo is one of the leading candidates to overtake Mitch in the batting race. Lee ranks fifth in the MAC with a .378 average.

Mitch and Lee have both appeared in 24 games. Mitch has a 48-point cushion over his brother, but Lee has experienced the rigors of MAC play.

Either way, it might be tough finding a better brother tandem in the country.

Mitch hits leadoff for Ohio. Lee, an All-MAC selection last season, bats cleanup for Eastern Michigan. Mitch owns a nine-game hitting streak while Lee has 12 multi-hit games.

Three players sit between the pair in the conference batting race: Kent State's Zarley Zalewski, Toledo's Deion Tansel and Bowling Green's Brian Bien.  

Having two entries in the race could bode well for the Longo family, and perhaps bring a MAC batting title to Mayfield.

MAC batting leaders

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

The move never made sense for either side.

UMass, a New England school, joined the Mid-American Conference, which features a Midwest nucleus, as a football-only member in 2012. After two straight 1-11 seasons, the Minutemen have solidified plans to leave the conference.

UMass and the MAC issued a joint announcement on March 26 declaring 2015 as the Minutemen's final season in the conference. UMass tried filling a void when Temple left the MAC to return to the Big East in 2012. The Owls now play in American Athletic Conference.

The only thing UMass created is a hole at the bottom of the conference. The program's lone wins since joining the MAC are against Akron in 2012 and Miami (Ohio) in 2013. Both teams went winless in MAC play. 

Adding UMass hasn't generated interest for the MAC -- or college football -- in New England. The program is averaging 13,590 fans per game since joining the MAC. The Minutemen play in Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. Coach Charley Molnar was fired after two seasons. His replacement is former Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple.

UMass was offered full MAC membership earlier this year. The school declined the offer and will become a football free agent.

"This is not the outcome we anticipated when UMass was admitted as a football-only member," MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher said in a statement."However, circumstances have changed regarding our football membership and this is a result of those circumstances."

When UMass leaves, the MAC will have 13 football members. Here's some advice for Steinbrecher and university presidents: don't leave your Midwest roots when shopping for a 14th member.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships

When: March 8-9

Where: M.A.C. Center, Kent State

Participating teams:  Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Ohio University, Old Dominion

The skinny: Yes, Missouri, Northern Iowa and Old Dominion are in the MAC -- for at least one sport. The trio has bolstered the conference's wrestling profile, with the MAC receiving 41 automatic spots to the NCAA Division I Championships. The Big Ten (74) and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (47) are the lone conferences with more automatic qualifiers. ... Two area wrestlers are a big part of resurgent Ohio University's success. Sophomore Phil Wellington (VASJ) is the No. 1 seed at 197 pounds. Junior Harrison Hightower (University) is seeded third at 165. Six MAC teams received votes in the final USA Today/NWCA/AWN Top 25. Northern Iowa went 13-0 and ended the regular season ranked fifth. Missouri went 10-2 to earn the No. 9 ranking. ...The tournament begins at noon March 8. The finals are 1:20 p.m. March 9.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsherladguy