WACO, Texas (May 8, 2019) – Pitcher Gabe Rodery and outfielder Hunter Markwardt represented Oklahoma Christian on the All-Heartland Conference baseball first-team honor list, announced Wednesday.

Making the second-team list was a trio of Eagles – outfielder Blake Empkey, first baseman Alex Garcia and second baseman Kevin Collyar, with Empkey tabbed as the conference's freshman of the year. It's the first individual baseball award won by an OC player since the Eagles began playing in the conference with the 2013 season.

"We had a good season and we're happy that so many guys made the All-Heartland team," OC coach Lonny Cobble said. "I'm really happy for Blake to be named as freshman of the year. It shows that other coaches noticed that he is a special talent."

Rodery, a junior left-hander from Verdigris, established himself as one of the Heartland's top pitchers, going 7-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 80 strikeouts against 19 walks in 84 innings. He led the conference in shutouts (three) and strikeouts looking (29) and was second in innings pitched, third in wins and complete games (seven) and fourth in ERA and strikeouts.

"Gabe Rodery has been one of the hardest workers I have ever coached," Cobble said. "This guy leads by example."

Markwardt, a junior from Argyle, Texas, was the conference's top leadoff batter, hitting .372 with three home runs (one inside the park) and RBIs. He had 18 doubles, four triples, 21 stolen bases (in 24 attempts), 63 runs scored,  a .551 slugging percentage and a .445 on-base percentage.

He led the conference (by a 12-run margin) in runs scored as well as doubles and stolen bases and his 28-game hitting streak set what is believed to be a Heartland and OC record. He ranked second in the Heartland in hits and triples and fourth in batting average and on-base percentage. Markwardt was a second-team All-Heartland pick last season.

"Hunter Markwardt has given our team a spark in almost every part of his game, from great catches to inside-the-park home runs to just being the guy that gets our offense going," Cobble said. "I just hope we have him for one more year!"

Empkey, an outfielder from Bedford, Texas, burst on the scene to play in all 48 games and start 45 as a freshman. He hit .337 with two home runs and a team-high 46 RBIs, adding 14 doubles and two triples for a .467 slugging percentage. He ranked fifth in the Heartland in RBIs and doubles and eighth in hits (62).

"I don't think you can say enough about Blake," Cobble said. "For a freshman to come in and not only start but lock down the three-hole in a lineup is almost unheard of. This kid works hard and takes every at-bat personal. He wants to be the guy at the plate when the game is on the line. He has a very bright future in front of him."

Garcia, a senior from Grand Prairie, Texas, rebounded after a difficult junior season to serve most of the campaign as the Eagles' cleanup batter. He hit .298 with six home runs and 30 RBIs and had a .466 slugging percentage. He ranked ninth in the Heartland in home runs and had only two errors in 367 defensive chances at first base, a .995 fielding percentage that ranked seventh in the league. His 350 putouts were the second-highest in the Heartland.

"Alex Garcia was probably our most improved player from last year to this year," Cobble said. "He worked hard in the cages and offseason and became a force in the middle of our lineup. I couldn't be more proud for a young man."

Collyar, from Edmond, was another freshman who started most of the season for the Eagles. He hit .308 with three home runs and 29 RBIs and led the team by drawing 29 walks, helping him post a .423 on-base percentage. His 112 defensive assists ranked fourth in the Heartland and he also was fifth in doubles (14) and ninth in walks in the league.

"Man, what an exciting future this young man has," Cobble said. "Kevin came in and had a phenomenal year for us, with big hits and great plays on defense. He is another player that works extremely hard in the cages and in practice."

OC went 28-20 and finished fifth in the Heartland this season with a 10-11 league record after being picked in the preseason to finish near the bottom of the conference standings. The Eagles spent much of the season ranked in the top 10 in the South Central Region.