SAGINAW ARTHUR HILL - Apr. 7, 2008 - Ogemaw Heights' baseball season got off to a promising start Monday as the Falcons earned a sweep of Arthur Hill, 9-3 and 6-4. The Falcons got a typical, dominating performance from Rick Dodridge on the mound in the first game, and Anthony Betancourt followed with a solid outing to key the victories. That, and the fact that Ogemaw was able to hit the ball well, even in an opening game against a premier pitcher like Arthur Hill's Mike Schaaf, had coach Jeremiah Peace pleased with his team's opening day effort.

"We hit the ball extremely well," he said. "It was great to see so many new faces get time and make the most of it. It's a big year for some of these juniors who are taking a big step into the starting lineup.

"Schaaf is a big-time prospect and we did very well against him. Our defense was decent considering we hadn't been outside much and our pitching, with the exception of a few rough innings, was what we wanted."

Dodridge struck out 15 batters in six innings, walking three and allowing four hits and two earned runs in the opener. Arthur Hill scored three runs to take the lead in the third inning, but Kelvin Page's two-run home run in the fifth inning gave Ogemaw the lead for good.

"It was a great moment for Kelvin," Peace said. "He's been such a dedicated and consistent worker in his time here."

Page, Jake Wangler and Michael Noffsinger each had two hits in the opener.

Betancourt pitched four shutout innings to earn the victory in the nightcap, which was called after five innings.

"Anthony was very, very effective," Peace said. "He was working the corners and really mixing it up. He was locating his off-speed stuff well and they didn't get a lot of comfortable swings off him."

Ogemaw scored two runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings, then held on as Arthur Hill scored four times in the bottom of the fifth.

Dodridge hit a solo home run, Nick Thorson had two doubles and Blaine Powley had two hits, including a double.

The Falcons (2-0) open North East Michigan Conference play at home on Friday against Oscoda (1-1).