GOLDEN, Colo. (May 21, 2021) – Noah Bates and Blake Empkey led a group of four Oklahoma Christian players who made the All-South Central Region list produced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, which was released Friday.

Bates, a relief pitcher, and Empkey, an outfielder, earned first-team honors from the NCBWA, while first baseman Michael DiFiore and designated hitter-catcher Chance Westervelt made the second-team list. The quartet led OC to a 24-16 record and a fourth-place finish in the Lone Star Conference – five spots better than predicted in the league's preseason poll.

It's the first time in the program's NCAA Division II history (which began with the 2013 season) the Eagles have had more than two players in a season make any of the three major All-Region teams. OC had only eight Division II All-Region picks during that time and only three first-team selections.

The NCBWA's South Central All-Region teams – the first of the three lists to be released in the coming days – were voted on by a committee of 11 members consisting of sports information directors from member schools of the Lone Star and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conferences.

Empkey, a sophomore from Bedford, Texas, was a first-team All-LSC selection after hitting .359 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs (third-best in the league). He ranked second in the LSC in homers, third in RBIs and fourth in hits (61) while posting a .665 slugging percentage and a .426 on-base percentage. He also made four pitching appearances, recording a save while posting a 4.50 ERA and eight strikeouts in four innings.

Bates, a junior from Southlake, Texas, emerged as the leader of OC's bullpen, capable of stretching out for long pitching stints and recording a key out when necessary. In a team-high 14 pitching appearances, he went 2-2 with five saves and a 5.19 ERA with 43 strikeouts and 14 walks in 34 2/3 innings. His five saves ranked second in the LSC.

DiFiore, from Lucas, Texas, was the LSC freshman of the year and a first-team All-LSC pick after a remarkable season. He hit .348 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs, leading the LSC in the latter two categories as well as in slugging percentage (.783). In Division II, DiFiore ranked seventh in both home runs and RBIs. His 19 homers tied for second on OC's single-season list and with 25 in his career, he already ranks fourth on the program's all-time list.

Westervelt, a freshman from Moore, Okla., played some at first base and catcher but made his mark as a DH, finishing second in the LSC (and 11th in Division II) in hitting at .440 to go with seven home runs and 35 RBIs. The first-team All-LSC pick was fifth in the conference in both slugging percentage (.712) and on-base percentage (.497). Westervelt was a one-time recipient of the LSC and South Central Region hitter of the week honors.

The other two major All-Region lists, from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association and the American Baseball Coaches Association, will be released in the coming weeks.