CANYON, Texas (May 26, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian relief pitcher
Noah Bates was his baseball team's only first-team honoree on the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-South Central Region list, which was announced Wednesday.
Receiving second-team honors were OC outfielder
Blake Empkey and designated hitter
Chance Westervelt. OC first baseman
Michael DiFiore, who led the Lone Star Conference in home runs (19), RBIs (58) and slugging percentage (.783) in 2021, curiously was not recognized on the D2CCA list, which was voted upon by sports information directors from member schools in NCAA Division II's South Central Region.
All four players earlier received first- or second-team recognition on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-South Central Region list, which was announced last week. One more major All-Region list, produced by the American Baseball Coaches Association, has yet to be announced.
Bates, a junior right-hander from Southlake, Texas, emerged as the leader of OC's bullpen, capable of both stretching out for long pitching stints or 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.
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.
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.
OC finished 24-16 this season, placing fourth in the LSC and qualifiying for a conference tournament for the first time since 2016. The Eagles also received votes in the NCBWA's NCAA Division II national poll for the first time in seven seasons.
