Coach: Jeremiah Peace

2007 Record: 29-8 (12-0 NEMC Champion)

Returning players: Rick Dodridge, sr., P; Anthony Betancourt, sr., OF/P; Michael Noffsinger, sr., 2B; Kelvin Page, sr., 3B; Aaron Kihn, sr., C; Andrew Funsch. jr., OF; Tyson Dantzer, sr., OF/DH; Blaine Powley, jr., P/SS; Jake Wangler, jr., 1B.

New to varsity: Chris Bones, fr., P/UT; Nick Thorson, jr.., OF; Josh Jameson, sr., OF; Kyle Scott, jr., UT; Nathan Noffsinger, jr., UT; Josh Gildner, jr.. P; Eric Noble, jr., P/UT.

Outlook: The Falcons have had plenty of success over the past two seasons, running up a 61-15 record, winning two NEMC titles and one district crown. With ace pitcher Rick Dodridge, already signed to play at CMU next year, returning to the mound, the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches' Association thinks enough of Ogemaw Heights to rank them second in the state in their pre-season poll.

But nothing will come easily this year, not with half of last year's starting lineup lost to graduation, and not with Pinconning – a state quarterfinalist that knocked Ogemaw out of the playoffs last year – ranked sixth in the state in that same poll.

“I told the kids about the state ranking and explained to them that our kids had earned that by the way they'd played the past two years,” says Ogemaw coach Jeremiah Peace. “It's up to this group to continue to earn that sort of respect. For the first time we really have a lot of new faces.”

It doesn't hurt that the Falcons still have Dodridge to depend on. The senior hurler has a career mark of 23-5 and a 1.19 ERA, striking out batters at a rate of more than 14 per seven innings. Senior Anthony Betancourt also saw quality action last year and has a career 1.26 ERA.

With a challenging schedule, two arms won't be enough to get the Falcons through the season. Peace is counting on Josh Gildner, Eric Noble, Chris Bones and Blaine Powley to fill the innings vacated by the departed seniors.

The Falcons return much of their infield, including senior third baseman Kelvin Page and catcher Aaron Kihn, who are both headed to Adrian College next year. Blaine Powley saw some time at shortstop last year and will play there when not pitching, and junior Jake Wangler started several games at the end of last season at first.

A big bonus will be the return of second baseman Michael Noffsinger, who suffered a mid-season ankle injury that forced him to miss the second half of the year. His speed at the top of the batting order – he's stolen more bases (77) than hits (68) in his varsity career – will be a catalyst for the Ogemaw offense. Andrew Funsch and Tyson Dantzer also saw plenty of action last season.

“We have some solid seniors who have been tremendous leaders through the off-season and early season,” Peace says. “We need some people to step up and fill the roles they've been prepared to fill, both in the lineup and on the mound. If those two things work out well then we should be OK and continue to compete every day.”

The NEMC race will be as tough as always, with Standish-Sterling (another defending state quarterfinalist) and John Glenn figuring to provide more stiff competition. A challenging non-conference schedule includes All Saints, Arthur Hill and a tournament field at Mt. Pleasant that includes the Oilers (who beat Pinny in last year's quarterfinals), perennial state power Escanaba and Grosse Pointe South.

“The conference race will be tough,” Peace says. “Our first goal is to defend our championship, then focus towards preparing to compete at the state level.

“We'll play some very tough non-conference games in hopes of toughening us up and showing us what we're made of.”