OGEMAW HEIGHTS - May 15, 2006 - The Ogemaw Heights softball team swept Oscoda 11-1 and 8-3 on Monday, helping the Falcons jump over Whittemore-Prescott into second place in the North East Michigan Conference behind Pinconning, which has already wrapped up the league title.

Oscoda took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opener as Laurie David, Dana Shugart and Dana Kitchen bunched together singles to start off the game.

Ogemaw pitcher Jamie Lucas settled down after that and ended up allowing seven hits in the game, walking one and striking out four.

The Falcons tied it in the bottom of the first on Lauren Shepardson's RBI double, then added four runs in the second inning and five in the third.

"Everybody played smart defense, made the plays when they needed to, and stopped any momentum that Oscoda was trying to build."Lucas had three hits and three RBIs, while Shepardson, Michelle Berdan and Kelly Rosebrugh each had two hits. Shepardson, Rosebrugh and Alexis Buchoz had two RBIs apiece.

Riley Shelton took the loss for Oscoda. Seven Owls - David, Walker, Shugart, Kitchen, Shelton, Heather Spenceley and Heather Patterson - each had one hit.

In the second game, an Ogemaw error gave the Owls a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. The Falcons bounced back with a run in the second and three in the third, highlighted by Sam Thorson's two-run single. Ogemaw added three more in the fourth for a 7-1 lead.

"Errors cost us the game," said Oscoda coach Jamie Samotis. "We had many hits and well-fielded balls. We lost the game with mental errors and poor throws."

Patterson led the Owls with three hits and had an RBI, while Dana Shugart took the pitching loss.

Colleen Wren had two hits and drove in three runs and picked up the win by allowing two earned runs on six hits and three walks.

"It was another solid defensive effort," Chuck Wren said. "We executed well, knew where the plays needed to be made and did a great job stopping any offensive threat."

Lucas and Thorson each had two RBIs and Ashley Killinger scored twice.

Ogemaw improved to 13-10 (7-3 NEMC) while the Owls dropped to 9-20 (0-10).