OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 15, 2021) – Blake Empkey's road to success at Oklahoma Christian has been paved by hard work, a deep desire to succeed and a whole lot of love for the game of baseball.
 
The love of baseball runs deep in the Empkey family. Empkey, a sophomore outfielder and pitcher from Bedford, Texas, started playing the game when he was just five years old.
 
"The reason I started playing baseball was because my dad really wanted me and my older brother to play baseball," Empkey said. "Once my brother started playing baseball, I started to get the hang of the game and I felt like I could be great at it."
 
At age five, Empkey's "feeling of greatness" proved to be more than just mere premonition and he has worked throughout his life to make greatness a reality in his life.
 
Empkey played baseball at Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, and made a massive impact in his four years there. As a freshman, Empkey set his sights on playing for the varsity team; however, his head coach advised him to play junior varsity before transitioning to varsity his sophomore year. While a freshman, he played shortstop before transitioning to right field and pitcher for the rest of high school.
 
Empkey said the year on junior varsity allowed him to grow as a player and motivated him to work even harder to be his best.
 
"My experience in high school was pretty surreal in many ways," Empkey said. "When I got my chance my sophomore year, there was no way anyone was going to take my spot, because I had the mentality that I was going to outwork everyone."
 
Empkey and the Bell baseball team missed out on the playoffs his sophomore and junior seasons, but during Empkey's senior season everything clicked. Empkey said making the playoffs his senior year was "one of the best memories he will never forget."

He was named to the All-District 5-6A first-team list as an outfielder and was selected for the North Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association West All-Star Team.
 
After his senior season, Empkey received several junior-college scholarship offers to play baseball and one NCAA offer – from Oklahoma Christian and coach Lonny Cobble. Not wanting to take the junior-college route, Empkey chose to attend OC. He said the coaches and team atmosphere made the decision even easier.
 
"The reason I chose Oklahoma Christian was because of the coaching staff and how the whole recruiting process worked," Empkey said. "Also, coach Cobble told me I had the chance to start my freshman year, which made me choose Oklahoma Christian."
 
Cobble said Empkey's trademark work ethic and raw talent made Empkey a high recruiting priority for the Eagles.
 
"Blake is a young man who has tremendous work ethic and is a great player," Cobble said. "He is a great ball player, but a better person. Blake is the kind of person we want here at Oklahoma Christian."
 
Following his mantra of "hard work leads to greatness," Empkey quickly earned his spot as a starter as a freshman, starting his college career with a seven-game hitting streak. He became one of the best players in the NCAA Division II Heartland Conference, earning recognition as the league's freshman of the year in 2019 after hitting .337 with two home runs and 46 RBIs.

"The feeling when I found out I was named freshman of the year, I was in shock and, to be honest, I was caught by surprise," Empkey said. "I thought I had a good season, but I wasn't expecting to get that award. I was honored and grateful, but I knew the grind and hard work doesn't stop there.

"Yes, it was an honor, but that's not what I want to earn. I want to become a conference champion and to pave a path to the D2 national championship, because that would be an accomplishment for the team and coaching staff."

In 2020, the season was cancelled after only 22 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But in those games, Empkey hit .360 with 12 RBIs. He said he owed his rise in hitting success to his teammates support and his coaches' willingness to work with him outside of the regular practice schedule.
 
"I could not do this without my teammates or coaches," Empkey said. "The countless hours of hard work my teammates and coaches have put in to be a great team and train is hard to explain. We all push each other, which in return produces success.

"I couldn't thank my hitting instructors back home enough for the time they have put in with me and would love to thank (former minor-league player) Scott Coolbaugh, the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers, who I train with during the winter break. I'd also love to thank Mickey Tettleton and the coaches at Oklahoma Christian for all my success."

Cobble said Empkey's success came from his desire to win and continually improve his swing and technique.
 
"He hits every day," Cobble said. "He never takes a day off."

In 2020, Empkey, a right-hander, also pitched the first time for the Eagles, going 0-1 and posting an 11.74 ERA and four strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings of work that included a pair of starts. The opportunity to pitch for OC came as a slight surprise to Empkey, although he pitched in high school.
 
"When coach Cobble and coach (Chance) Stevens first talked to me about it, they were like 'Can you take on the role?' and I said 'Yes I can,' because I'm a competitor and whatever it takes to help the team win, I will do it and if that means I have to train harder, then I will to get the job done," Empkey said.
 
After the 2020 season was cut short, Empkey is looking forward to the upcoming season as he aims to be great from the plate and the mound as the Eagles look to play their first full season in the Lone Star Conference.
 
"I'm going to focus on both (hitting and pitching) and train and work hard to be the best hitter I can be and to be the best closer I can be to help this team win games," Empkey said.
 
Cobble said he has no doubt Empkey will develop into a dual threat for the Eagles.
 
"He has a strong arm and great command on the mound and has become a more patient hitter at the plate," Cobble said.
 
Above all, Empkey said he looks forward to every opportunity he gets to be the best at the game he loves.
 
"My dad has drilled in my head to work hard and he has motivated me to be the best I can be, which has helped me motivate myself and to wake up every day and get better at the game I love," Empkey said.