You’d need all 10 of your fingers to count the number of consecutive Southwestern League titles the Fruita Monument High School baseball team has won.

The 10th straight title came Friday after the Wildcats defeated Grand Junction 6-3 at Canyon View Park.

The Tigers defeated Fruita Monument 5-4 on Tuesday to turn Friday’s contest into a de facto league championship matchup. After Tuesdays loss, Wildcats coach Casey Sullivan told his team to re-center their focus, as they still had plenty to play for despite their emotional loss.

“They can go home and they can be mad, be upset, and rightfully so, they should be,” Sullivan said after the Tuesday loss. “But tomorrow’s a new day.”

Fruita did well to show resiliency in the face of a tough defeat, and, according to the coach, used it as motivation for a good week of practice that ultimately culminated in Friday’s victory.

“I thought we were able to move past it,” Sullivan said Friday. “But practice was different. We had a little different focus, especially from the offensive side of things.”

The Wildcats wouldn’t be beat twice in the week, and after scoring three runs in the third inning and two in the fourth, strong pitching from Gavin Cardoza led Fruita to a comfortable victory.

Cardoza earned his fourth win of the season, allowing only one earned run in 6 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. The junior pitched deep into the game’s final inning before hitting the state-mandated 110-pitch limit and forcing Fruita Monument to turn to the bullpen for the final out. Cardoza lowered his season ERA to 2.81 in the win.

Second baseman Jimmy Hawkins and right fielder Noah Brackett each recorded multiple hits for the Wildcats in the win. Shortstop Josh Weaver was the lone Fruita player to drive in multiple runs offensively, going 1 for 2 with a two-run double.

“(This win) means a lot,” Sullivan said. “I’m totally excited for the boys. They’re the ones who put in all the work — they’re the ones who throw, catch, and hit. Proud of those guys.”

Both Fruita Monument and Grand Junction await their opponents in the regional baseball tournaments — the Wildcats in Class 5A and the Tigers in 4A. The regional tournament brackets will be released by CHSAA on Wednesday.