First team Pitchers: Daniel King, Stafford; Jake Mayers, Hanover. Catcher: Blake Boyce, First Colonial. 1B: Eric Payne, McLean. 2B: Kyle Toulouse, Yorktown. 3B: Joey Cujas, Manchester. SS: Chris Taylor, Frank Cox. Outfielders: Erickson Keeton, Nansemond River; Vince Coles, Albemarle; Bryn Renner, West Springfield. Utility: R.C. Orlan, Deep Run; Johnny Bladel, Stone Bridge. DH: James Feldman, GW-Danville.

Ka’Lia Johnson didn’t make the USA Women’s U16 national basketball team, but she recently returned from three days of trials determined to get a future invitation. “Hopefully, the next time I go back, I’ll be wearing the USA jersey,“ Johnson said. The rising junior at Thomas Dale High was one of 34 players invited to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to compete for 12 spots. The team will play against seven national teams from North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean in the first FIBA Americas U16 championship Aug. 10-14 in Mexico. The top three teams qualify for the 2010 FIBA U17 world championship next summer in France.

Baseball coach Grant Odell is stepping down after starting the program at Deep Run High in 2003. “I’ve decided it’s time to spend time with my family,“ Odell, 52, said. Odell has a daughter who plays basketball and softball about to enter Deep Run and another daughter not far behind. “I want to focus my time and energy in the direction that puts my wife and family first,“ he said.

Kristin Carpenter, volleyball standout at Hanover High, and Ben DeJarnette, cross country and track star for Atlee, win top Times-Dispatch/Sports Backers honors and $7,500 scholarships.

Kristin Carpenter of Hanover High School and Ben DeJarnette of Atlee High School are the 2009 Times-Dispatch/Sports Backers Scholar-Athletes of the Year. They were chosen from 10 girls and 10 boys finalists and will receive $7,500 scholarships. Carpenter was a volleyball standout. DeJarnette starred in cross country and distance races in indoor and outdoor track.

CHANTILLY—The first out of the state Group AAA championship baseball game came easily enough for starting pitcher Tyler Kane and the Hanover High Hawks: a sharp grounder to second base. The second out wasn’t so easy. Menchville scored five runs before reliever Justin Thorn came in and got a strikeout. A groundout finally ended the inning, but the first-inning blitz and Monarchs pitcher Ethan Carter proved too much to overcome as Hanover settled for the runner-up trophy after a 7-1 loss to Menchville of Newsport News yesterday at Westfield High.

Bryson Kemler serves as Hanover High School’s leadoff hitter and catalyst. But he hadn’t been getting on base much lately because of a postseason slump. “I only had one hit since the district championship game,“ noting a stretch of four games, he said. Kemler had two last night—and they qualified as considerably more than just getting on base.

All games at Westfield High
Tickets $10
Yesterday, semifinals
Menchville 6, Stafford 4 (completion of quarterfinal)Menchville 6, West Springfield 5
Hanover 3, Frank Cox 0
  Final, today
Hanover vs. Menchville, 4 p.m.
Yesterday, semifinals
Loudoun Valley 2, South County 0

Now batting for Hanover High School, the first baseman, Austin Erb. Now batting for Cox High School, the designated hitter, Austin Erb. Players with the same name - but no relation - will be on the field tonight when Hanover and Cox (Virginia Beach) meet at 7 in the state group Group AAA baseball semifinals at Westfield High in Chantilly.

All games at Westfield High
Tickets $10
Today, semifinals
Completion of Menchville-Stafford quarterfinal, 1 p.m.West Springfield vs. Menchville-Stafford winner, 4
Frank Cox vs. Hanover, 7
  Final, tomorrow
Semifinals winners, 4 p.m.
Today, semifinals
Loudoun Valley vs. South County, 5 p.m.

Game times have been changed again for several Virginia High School League state Group AAA semifinal playoffs scheduled for Saturday at Westfield High School in Chantilly.

GROUP AAA All games at Westfield High
Tickets $10
Tomorrow, semifinals
West Springfield vs. Menchville-Stafford winner, 3 p.m.Frank Cox vs. Hanover, 7
  Final, Sunday
Semifinals winners, 3 p.m.
Tomorrow, semifinals
  Loudoun Valley vs. South County, 4 p.m.
Great Bridge vs. Prince George, 7 Final, Sunday

GROUP AAA All games at Westfield High
Tickets $10
Tomorrow, semifinals
West Springfield vs. Menchville-Stafford winner, 3 p.m.Frank Cox vs. Hanover, 7
  Final, Saturday
Semifinals winners, 3 p.m.
Tomorrow, semifinals
  Loudoun Valley vs. South County, 4 p.m.
Great Bridge vs. Prince George, 1 Final, Saturday

Jake Mayers yields just four singles in 4-0 victory over Lake Braddock; Eric Mayers drives in three runs with bases-loaded double.

Teams in baseball, softball, girls soccer and boys soccer begin high school playoffs today.