Before getting started with the afternoon posts

A congratulations to the High Desert Mavericks in the California League.

For the first time since 1993, the High Desert Mavericks are first half champions. They defeated the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4-3 Wednesday night at Mavericks Stadium and paired with a Lake Elsinore loss they clinched the title.

See any familiar names here?

Alex Liddi parked a solo homer over the left field fence to lead off the sixth to tie the game at one run apiece.

The seventh inning has been the big one for the Mavs all season, so it was only appropriate they broke through for three runs on Wednesday night. The first run came home on a throwing error by Rancho Cucamonga outfielder Jeremy Moore.

Liddi and Kuo Hui Lo each had big two-out base hits to put the Mavs ahead 4-1 heading into the eighth.

Phillippe Aumont worked the ninth and got his 12th save of the season.

By my count there are 21 former Timber Rattlers on the Mavericks roster.

Congratulations to former Rattler manager Jim Horner, his staff -- which is also made up of ex-Rattler coaches -- and the entire team.

“They are the ones who did it. They are the ones who deserve the celebration,” said High Desert manager Jim Horner, watching the Champagne fight from the back. “For me personally, the last two years managing, it was up-and-down type of seasons. The Mariners knew when they sent these guys here that they would do something special because there are a lot of good players on this team. Hopefully, we get to kind of hang out for a little while and we get to play in the playoffs and hopefully we can prove that we are the best team.”