Tip of the hat to outgoing directors

While Saturday may have called for the wearin' o' the green, at John Burroughs High School's Tomahawk Field you would have been hard pressed to find anyone who wasn't sportin' Burroughs' red. Supporters of the school's softball program staged their inaugural "Stars vs. Staff Celebrity Softball Game" that pitted teachers against celebs from film and television.

NBC-4's Fritz Coleman served as master of ceremonies of the game that saw producer, director and actor Garry Marshall take to the mound with his Stars teammates that included Penny Marshall, best known for her role as Laverne on "Laverne & Shirley;" actor Bernie Kopell, who is remembered as Dr. Adam Bricker on "The Love Boat;" Jason Dolley and Maiara Walsh from the Disney Channel's "Cory in the House;" Golden Globe-nominated actor Hector Elizondo; Tony Award-winning actor and Burbank restaurateur Joe Mantegna; and actress Nadine Stenovitch from "Another World."

The home team's roster included Angelica Fitzgerald, Jamie Gibs, Scott Hatch, Adam Hochberg, Keith Knoop, Vickie Oganyan, John Peebles, Richard Piper, Art Sullivan, Jill Tobin, Randy Tobin, Jose Valle and John Benne.

Among the organizers and volunteers who helped stage Saturday's event were Molly Terry, Nick Schepperle, David Cook, Bob, Charlene and Caiti Block, Leslie and Katie Budrick, Paul and Kimberly Ohrt, Beth and John Benne, Rudy Cassilas, Richard and Yvonne Colon, Gail and Irv Peters, Gina Geraci, Tracy Young, Lori Shelton, Billie Terry, Kelly Zubia, Cyndi Mersola, Marissa Smile, Maria Odio, Albert and Mary Lara, Pete Bova and Amanda Collard.

"This has been a wonderful event," said Gail Peters.

"To some extent, girl's softball has been a forgotten part of sports programs in many schools. That is why it is great to see people come out and be so supportive of these girls and their future."

By game's end, staff held on to a slim 18 to 15 victory, although the true winner was John Burroughs High School Softball Program that will benefit from the close to $7,000 raised.