Boys' Tennis: Thacher featured on April cover of RISE Magazine

Ryan Thacher doesn't seek publicity, but I guess it's hard to avoid the spotlight when you're the best high school tennis player in the country.

He's certainly caught the eye of editors at RISE (formerly called School Sports), a national magazine covering high school athletics, who have selected Thacher to appear on the April cover, a distinction he now shares with, among others, NBA superstar LeBron James.

Granted, it remains to be seen whether the Harvard-Westlake senior will achieve the level of fame in his sport that James has in basketball, but Thacher's future certainly appears bright.

Arcadia Invitational: Hasay outlasts Babcock in 3,200 meters

In the duel between the state's distance running greats, San Luis Obispo Mission Prep's Jordan Hasay, pictured, once again illustrated the kind of talent that has made her a two-time state champion in the 3,200 meters.

Despite a spirited effort by Woodbridge's Christine Babcock, Hasay inched ahead of the defending Division II state cross-country champion in the final 200 meters, winning the 3,200 in a national-leading time of 10 minutes, 03.07 seconds at the Arcadia Invitational Saturday night.

It was also the third-fastest time in national history.

Hasay and Babcock stayed neck-and-neck the entire race and switched leads a couple times before Hasay turned on the afterburners to pick up her first victory in the 3,200 this season.

The mark also broke Hasay's Arcadia Invitational record and set a new junior national record.

Babcock's time of 10:04.03 was a personal best, too.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image from Mark Smith

Girls' basketball: Butterworth named at Capo Valley Christian

His name reminds me of dreamy pancake syrup, but my suspicion is that Brad Butterworth knows his Xs and O's like Mrs. Butterworth knows maple. Mr. Butterworth has been named the girls' basketball coach at Capistrano Valley Christian.

He came from Colorado College, where he was an assistant on the men's basketball team. Before that, he had been at Dana Hills for five seasons, according to the Register.

Not sure how smooth and buttery he can make the CVC offense right away. The Eagles were 7-17 last season and lost their final 11 games, including all 10 in the Academy League.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.brandweek.com

Softball: Surprise finalists at the Woodbridge Classic

I'm not inherently surprised that Trabuco Hills defeated No. 22 Foothill in the semifinals of the 26th Woodbridge Classic. But by a 10-4 score? That seems a bit of a shocker.

OK, I lied. I am inherently surprised that Trabuco Hills beat Foothill. 

Trabuco scored three runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings. It got three runs batted in from Madi Geiger, and two each from Kelsi Luttrell, Kayla Massey and Taylor Thurman. It reminds me of that doubleheader earlier this season in which Foothill gave up 25 runs to La Mirada. I mean, that just doesn't happen. Not at Foothill.

Basketball: Top teams, players represented in Battle of the Valley

There figures to be plenty of flash and dash Sunday at Cal State Northridge, which is site of the 2008 Battle of the Valley All-Star basketball games for graduating seniors.

Bryce Smith of Taft -- No. 4 in The Times' top 25 -- and Lorne Jackson and Michael Meza of No. 10 Simi Valley are among those on Simi Valley Coach Christian Aurand's West roster, while Dallas Rutherford of No. 8 Campbell Hall and Justin Cook of No. 12 Renaissance Academy are on the East roster coached by Reseda's Keith Higgins.

Kim Brandon of Chatsworth, which was No. 11 in the final girls' rankings, and Megan Ford of Hart are among those who will take the floor at 3 p.m. Brandon and her West teammates are coached by Quincy Brooks of Monroe, while Ford and the East are coached by Bryan Camacho of Bell-Jeff.

The boys tip off at 5 p.m., in the 12th annual game sponsored by the Valley Sports Foundation.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.wjcu.org

USA Juniors prove world-beaters behind DeRozan and Holiday

USC-bound DeMar DeRozan, pictured, of Compton scored 17 points and UCLA-bound Drew Gordon of San Jose Mitty had 15 to lead the USA junior national select team to a 98-78 victory over the world select team Saturday in the annual Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore.

North Hollywood Campbell Hall's Jrue Holiday, The Times' player of the year who is also headed to UCLA, added 13 points and five assists for the USA team.

The international team, which featured players from 11 countries, was led by 7-foot-1 Alexis Ajinca of France. He had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Arcadia Invitational: Friday and Saturday's results

To get a complete rundown of Friday's top performers in the "burnin' batons" portion of the Arcadia Invitational, check out the DyeStatCal.com website.

As for Saturday afternoon's open events, click on "read more" below for a quick rundown of the SoCal winners -- so far. Please give them a look because it took me about 15 minutes to type them in, thanks.

Oh, and the invitational portion is scheduled to start with the field events at 4 p.m. The track events will begin around 5:15.

Arcadia Invitational: Nice backpack, but where's the media guide?

Despite the best efforts of the traffic-clogged 210 freeway, I made it to the Arcadia Invitational about two hours before the showcase portion of the event. Unfortunately, I had to run around in circles for about 15 minutes trying to find where I could get my media credentials thanks to a bunch of security guards who insisted I was in the wrong place.

However, I eventually found my way to the heavenly-white tent where they hand out the all-access wristbands. I also received a snazzy Arcadia Invitational backpack, pictured, for my troubles.

At Dominguez, there is a base-stealing bandit

Theft is a crime in our society. In baseball it is adored.

We're talking about base stealing, of course. Nobody could steal home quite like Jackie Robinson; just ask Yogi Berra. Ty Cobb's bag-pilfering motto: "Spikes high, dammit!" And Rickey Henderson mastered the art of smash-and-grab base-running.

Now, in the Southland, you had better watch your bases. Because Malachi Moore is on the prowl.

Football: Hart's Herrington recovering from hip surgery

Years of limping caused Hart football Coach Mike Herrington to undergo surgery earlier this week to replace one of his hips.

Herrington was scheduled to be released from the hospital Saturday and begin recovery efforts so he'll be ready for the start of spring practice next month.

-- Eric Sondheimer

-- Image from z.about.com