Senior catcher Alberto Mlenak knew that Friday's game was big in so many ways.
Not only was it a rivalry game with Wood-Ridge, but also Hasbrouck Heights was looking to end a two-game losing streak.
And the senior catcher and the rest of the Aviators got what they wanted in a 7-3 win over the Blue Devils at Gary Depken Field in a cool, windy game.
"We were just looking to have a big day after coming off two losses," said Mlenak who was 3-for-4 on the day against Wood-Ridge starter Dean Loucka. "I like to sit back on the fast ball and stay away from the curve ball."
The victory gave the Aviators a 3-3 record on the season.
Behind a 12-hit attack Hasbrouck Heights was able to take a 5-1 lead after a five-run first inning that had the Aviators bat around the order.
While Wood-Ridge chipped away by scoring a run each in the second and third innings, Heights came back to get some insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
After giving up a run in the first three innings, Aviators pitcher Steve Sears kept the Wood-Ridge offense at bay for the last four innings, shutting them out and allowing only one runner in the final three innings.
Sears' pitching and the offensive attack helped Heights secure the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference Meadowlands B division. On the day Sears scattered seven hits while striking out six.
The victory was also critical if the young Aviators want to catch St. Mary in the race for the NJIC Meadowlands B title. Heights lost to the Gaels, 16-4, on Tuesday and then dropped a 7-4 decision to Wallington at home on Wednesday.
Hasbrouck Heights head coach Rocco Minichiello said that he was not expecting to have Sears go the distance, but a quick one-two-three sixth inning allowed the coach to have Sears go the distance.
"He just got comfortable out there on the mound," said Minichiello. "He threw 100 pitches. We don't want the pitchers to throw a lot of pitches in the beginning of the season, but he had such a quick sixth inning that we decided to bring him out for the seventh inning."
Along with Mlenak the top of the lineup led the way as left fielder Jesse Ramirez was 2-for-4, Chris Abramo was 1-for-3. First baseman and cleanup hitter Mike Pasqualone got on base all four times, was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI.
After Wood-Ridge got on board first with a run in the first inning, Heights took the challenge and put the first four batters on base with RBI from Ramirez, Pasqualone and Sears getting an RBI sacrifice to shortstop.
When the smoke cleared the Aviators were ahead 5-1, Heights added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI from Mlenak and Pasqualone.
For the Aviators the schedule does not get easier with Secaucus on the road on Monday and host Pascack Hills on Tuesday with a noon start because of the spring break.
Hasbrouck Heights 2011 baseball schedule
(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)
April 18 at Secaucus
April 19 Pascack Hills, noon
April 21 at North Arlington
April 25 Queen of Peace
April 26 Lodi
April 27 at Becton
April 29 Harrison
May 3 at Lyndhurst
May 5 at Weehawken
May 6 at Emerson
May 9 at Saddle Brook
May 11 Hawthorne
May 12 at River Dell
May 13 at St. Mary
May 14 Weehawken, 10 a.m.
May 17 at Wallington
May 19 Wood-Ridge, Staten Island Yankees, 6:30 p.m.