GOLDEN, Colo. (Jan. 21, 2022) – Oklahoma Christian sluggers
Michael DiFiore and
Blake Empkey are among 14 players named Friday to the preseason All-South Central Region team produced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
DiFiore, a third-year sophomore from Lucas, Texas, was listed as the first baseman on the team, while Empkey, a junior from Bedford, Texas, was one of the three outfielders. Both made the 2021 All-Region teams chosen by the NCBWA and the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Members of the NCBWA regional voting committee, which includes five athletic communications professionals apiece from the Lone Star Conference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, selected the preseason All-Region team.
DiFiore, the LSC freshman of the year and a first-team All-LSC selection in 2021, hit .348 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs. He led the LSC in both homers and slugging percentage and finished a close third in RBIs despite playing at least 13 games fewer than the top two players in that category. In NCAA Division II, DiFiore ranked ninth in homers, 16th in RBIs and 31st in slugging percentage.
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. With three seasons of eligibility still remaining, he's only 22 away from the LSC career record of 47, set by West Texas A&M's Ben Hangartner from 1999-2002.
Empkey was a first-team All-LSC selection after hitting .359 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs (fifth-best in the league). He ranked third in the LSC in homers and ninth 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.
OC, coming off a 24-16 season, was picked seventh in the NCBWA's South Central Region preseason poll. The Eagles will open their season Feb. 4-6 with a four-game LSC series at St. Mary's (Texas). OC's home opener will be Feb. 11 against Lubbock Christian (Texas).
