Getting acquainted with the Mojave River League

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Sure, the average Southern Californian has never heard of Phelan, wouldn’t know Apple Valley from apple cider and might think someone headed toward Hesperia is actually going crazy.

However, if you’ve kept track of the five-team Mojave River League, you’re probably quite familiar with these ‘secluded’ destinations. MRL teams have a 21-4 record so far this season, making swiss cheese out of some pretty respectable opponents.

With league play beginning this week, they can finally start poking holes in each other. A good game right out the gate is Apple Valley (4-1) at Hesperia (5-0) at 7 on Friday night.

Hesperia, ranked No. 4 in the Southern Section Eastern Division coaches’ poll, and No. 5 Apple Valley have the best shot at knocking off No. 1 Serrano, but I’d say it’s about a 20-1 shot (Don’t even think about laying the wood with me, I’ve already informed you I’m not gambler).

Rim of the World must have a flat piece of land somewhere up there because the Fighting Scots (isn’t that nickname a contradiction?) are ranked No. 7 in the Eastern Division. Even the league’s anticipated doormat, Sultana, received a few votes after its 24-6 upset last week of San Diego Otay Ranch, which was playing without its starting quarterback.

Sultana (3-2) opens league play Friday night at Serrano, so we’ll soon find out how good the Sultans really are.

- Dan Arritt

Editor Bob: Everybody knows that Apple Valley was the home of singing cowboy Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans, pictured above. Got 25 minutes to spare? Check out a YouTube video of one of my favorite TV shows as a kid--which sorta tells you that I’m pretty old--below.