So far as the postseason, Grand Junction is in. And despite the 8-3 loss to the Tigers Friday, Fruita Monument remains in the driver’s seat to join the party.

As a bonus, The Tigers (8-1 league, 17-2 overall) also earned the Southwestern League pennant with the victory over their cross-valley rivals. And the team could be in line to host the opening weekend of the playoffs.

Fruita (6-3, 7-9), which led the SWL for most of the year, can reach the playoffs with a win over Montrose Tuesday afternoon at Canyon View Park or a win by Grand Junction over third-place Central that evening at Suplizio Field.

The Tigers won Friday’s contest by distancing themselves early. Grand Junction opened a 3-0 lead after third inning by using different methods to create runs.

In the first, Joe Arnold’s unplayed bunt down the third base scored Tigers leadoff man Chris Kelly, who tripled on a long drive that glanced off Wildcats center fielder J.J. Russo’s glove.

“(Coach Kyle Rush) gave me the green light,” Arnold said. “I’ve done it all season. That was the best bunt I’ve had.”

Designated hitter Aaron Berk expanded the lead on a solo home run in the second. Ross Koepsell singled home Kelly, who moved to third base on another Fruita outfield error plus a Cody Rahmann wild pitch.

The Tigers raised the margin to 8-0 after scoring four times in the fifth and once in the sixth. The big lead appeared to be plenty for Grand Junction starting pitcher Connor Dixon, who, aided by the Tigers defense, entered the seventh unscored on.

Dixon induced Rahmann into an inning-ending double play with Ryan Mixon on in the second. In the fourth Arnold spoiled Rahmann’s second try to put the Wildcats on the scoreboard with a diving catch on a ball toward the right-center gap after loading the bases with two outs.

“I had to catch it. There was no other option,” said Arnold. “With the bases loaded I had to catch the ball.”

Down to their final three outs, the Wildcats refused to exit quietly.

A throwing error followed by a Dixon walk put runners at first and second. But the Tigers sophomore appeared to have wiggled out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts on Shannon Reynolds and Alex Mende.

Russo kept Fruita’s hope alive with an RBI single. A catcher’s interference ruling against Koepsell scored the Wildcats’ second run. Rex Clemons, who had gone hitless in three at bats, singled home Fruita’s third run of the inning.

“It was frustrating. But I knew that Connor was going to get the job done,” Arnold explained. “He’s a good pitcher and we had 100 percent confidence in him.”