Ogemaw's Rob Goulette slides into third base on Matt Faiman's single in the Falcons' six-run fifth inning in the first game.
Tom Rezler slides past Ogemaw's AaronKihn with the Spartans' first run of the opener in the fourth inning.
Brent Baker
Kyle Weber lofts a fly to the warning track that eventually went for a two-base error.

OGEMAW HEIGHTS - May 17, 2007 - This time, the Ogemaw Heights baseball team won't have to share.

The Falcons, who last season finished tied atop the NEMC with Pinconning for their first league title since 1996, beat the Spartans 12-2 and 5-1 on Thursday to lock up sole possession of that championship trophy this time around, regardless of what happens in their May 21 doubleheader with Whittemore-Prescott.

"This is two in a row, but this is a lot nice because it's all ours," said Ogemaw coach Jeremiah Peace. "We don't have to share it.

"We've talked about not being satisfied with where we are. But this is a special year and a good step."

The Falcons rode the pitching of Rick Dodridge, who threw a two-hitter and struck out nine, and took advantage of five Pinconning errors to break open game that had been close through four innings.

The Falcons scratched out two unearned runs in the first, but Pinny played some small-ball in the fourth to tie it. After Tom Rezler and Kurtis Mowbray singled to lead off the inning, the Spartans squeezed home Mowbray on Coty Swinson's bunt, and Andrew Marut sacrificed home Mowbray with the second run. Swinson tried to score on the throw to first the retired Marut, but Ryan Bragg's throw home was in time to get the final out of the inning.

"We had a slow start," Peace said. "We didn't come out sharp in the first game, but we turned it around in time to support Rick."

The Spartans, with virtually no chance to catch the Falcons even if they could have earned a sweep, didn't pitch Rezler, saving him for a possible district tournament matchup between the two teams. Instead, Barrett Penix got the call and deserved far better than he got. Of the 12 runs he allowed, only two were earned, as many of the 11 hits he allowed came after errors extended innings that it appeared he would pitch out of. Penix walked two and struck out four.

The Falcons scored four in the bottom of the fourth to break the tie as Kyle Weber led off with a fly ball that was dropped for a two-base error. Mike Pacella and Rob Goulette followed with two-out RBI singles and Matt Faiman had a two-run double.

Ryan Bragg's two-run single and Aaron Kihn's two-run double highlighted a six-run fifth.

In the second game, Matt Faiman didn't quite do it all, but he did plenty as he threw a three-hitter for the win on the mound and belted an RBI double and two-run home run to drive in all the offensive support he needed.

"Rick and Matt are two special pitchers," Peace said. "Pinconning battled each of them but they came through and got tough when they had to."

Faiman walked two and struck out eight. Bragg and Anthony Betancourt each drove in runs and Kyle Wangler and Kelvin Page each had two hits.

Stephan Moore took the loss for Pinny, allowing four earned runs on nine hits and striking out seven. Rezler had two of the Spartans' three hits, both doubles, and Tim Darby scored Pinny's lone run.

The Falcons improved to 18-5 (10-0 NEMC), while the Spartans fell to 18-11 (7-5) and will finish fourth in the league.