OGEMAW HEIGHTS - May 7, 2007 - When the Ogemaw Heights defense faltered, Rick Dodridge was there to bail the Falcons out.

Tawas Area scored three unearned runs thanks to three Falcon errors and singles by the Braves' Shaun Jordan and Blair Conklin in the first inning. After that, Dodridge took over the game, striking out 10 straight batters and 18 overall in allowing just two baserunners - one on an error - after the first inning.

"The first inning was rough," said Ogemaw coach Jeremiah Peace. "After that, Rick shut it down."

Dodridge's 18 strikeouts - all but three outs in the seven-inning game - are a new Ogemaw heights single-game record.

The Falcons took the lead for good in the second behind a two-run double by Kyle Weber, and RBI groundout from Ryan Bragg and Michael Noffsinger's sacrifice fly. Noffsinger added a run-scoring double in the fourth for the game's final run.

Justin Bielby had the Braves' other hit. The Braves' Alex Verlac and Ty McCoy allowed just three hits to the Braves.

In the second game, the Falcons had to hang on as Tawas loaded the bases with no one out in the seventh inning. Ryan Bragg, who took over for Matt Faiman in the fifth, retired the side to preserve the victory.

Falcons took a 3-0 lead in the first, highlighted by Dodridge's home run, which came despite a stiff wind from the outfield that Peace estimated knocked down three more potential home runs for the Falcons.

"The wind was a huge factor in us not putting more runs on the board," he said. "Nothing we can do about that. We put good swings on the ball and hit it hard; we're happy to come out on top.

"Our pitchers did a nice job of controlling the games for the most part and we played solid D after the first inning of Game 1. Noff(singer) had two great plays up the middle that changed the game."

Trailing 4-0, the Braves got back in the game in the fourth as Josh Thomas walked, Alex Verlac singled and McCoy tripled home the two runs. Faiman struck out the next batter to leave the run stranded on third, and Bragg came in to preserve Faiman for Thursday's crucial doubleheader at John Glenn.

The Bobcats lost their first league game of the year on Monday, ensuring the Falcons need only a split to maintain their spot atop the NEMC.

"John Glenn becomes our focus now," Peace said. "We have to prepare for them and keep our focus on our goals."

Justin Troutt pitched a solid game for the Braves in the loss, allowing six hits, walking four and striking out 10. McCoy had two hits while Jared Coffin added one.

Aaron Kihn had two hits, including a double for the Falcons, with Kelvin Page, Tyson Dantzer and Anthony Betancourt adding one apiece.

The Falcons (13-3, 6-0 NEMC) play at Glenn (14-8, 7-1) at 4 p.m. on Thursday. The Braves dopped to 4-7-1 (0-7-1).