BULLOCK CREEK - Apr. 14, 2007 - If you didn't have to count the first inning, the Ogemaw Heights baseball team had a pretty good day at the Bullock Creek Invitational on Saturday.

Unfortunately, the Falcons didn't get a mulligan for the first inning of either game, but managed to pull out a split of their two games, falling 5-4 to Petoskey and beating Traverse City St. Francis 12-7 after falling behind early.

The Falcons started the day with a three-error first inning that handed the Northmen an early 3-0 lead. The Falcons fought back to tie it at 3-3 in the sixth, took a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning but gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning to lose it.

"(It was) another rough day in the field," said Falcon coach Jeremiah Peace. "We came back nice ... after the first three innings, it was a very good ball game."

Ryan Bragg, who started the first game, pitched the opening three innings and was victimized by the tough start. Anthony Betancourt came on and pitched an effective final 5-2/3 innings in relief but took the loss. Matt Faiman had three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs while Betancourt and Rob Goulette had two hits.

The Falcons, who were without Rick Dodridge and Aaron Kihn, who were resting injuries, also got a strong defensive performance out of JV call-up Jake Wangler at first base.

"Jake started at first and made three awesome plays," Peace said, "two of which were scoops that saved his brother (Kyle's) butt."

The Falcons fell behind 2-0 in the second game, but came back with four runs in the second and five in the third to take a big lead. Faiman started and earned the win, with Eric Noble and Kyle Wangler finishing up in relief.

"We got a lot of at-bats for some kids, especially the young ones," Peace said.

"We actually played baseball today. Kyle Weber and Rob Goulette really stepped up their play and the pitching was good enough to win both games."

Faiman and Weber each had two hits; Weber had three RBIs and Scott Kimball drove in two runs.

The Falcons (4-2) open up NEMC play on Monday at Standish-Sterling, and Peace hoped that getting into league play will help his team shore up some of its early-season holes.

"We continue to sleep through entire innings and then try to dig out of a hole," he said. "That needs to change fast. We're just not playing with the same intensity as what I am used to seeing. Maybe getting a string of league games together over a few days will light a fire and get us on the right track."