Celebrities Bring Their 'A' Game to Pickleball in Danger Zone

Published 2 weeks ago• 4 minute read

The celebrities invited to Kenny Loggins’ Pickleball in the Danger Zone on Saturday at the Santa Barbara Municipal Courts showed they can hold their own in a tournament.

James Hervey of Wonder Years fame deftly moved the ball around while playing with pickleball pro and 2016 beach volleyball Olympian Casey Patterson. Maroon 5 guitarist James Valentine, screenwriter Doug Ellin (creator of Entourage) and singer/songwriter Tyrone Wells delivered powerful top-spin forehands and actor Duane Henry displayed a unique and effective serve out of a stance that resembled a sprinter in the starting block for a race. (Not sure if it’s legal.)

James Valentine, guitarist for Maroon 5, was a heavy hitter on the pickleball court. (Pia Valtierra photo)

Tournament host Kenny Loggins drew cheers from the crowd after some good defensive plays and put-away shots.

The celebrities played with four local pickleball enthusiasts —Scott Brunstein, Terry Adams, Doug and Leslie Ammerman — and some professional players, including Patterson, Wes Burrows, Preston Bees and Cierra Gaytan-Leach.

The Pickleball in the Danger Zone event was a fund-raiser for the Unity Shoppe.

The women took over the courts for doubles action on Day 2 of the eighth annual American Riviera Classic.

In the 4.5-plus division, Mexican teen sensation Aline Morales won the tournament’s highest division for the second straight year. She combined with former UC Santa Barbara tennis player and current pickleball pro Bryanna Ojeda of Carpinteria and defeated pro Cierra Gaytan-Leach and her mom, Noel Gaytan, a senior pro player, 15-4 in the gold medal match.

Wes Burrows was one of six pro players to participate in the Pickleball in the Danger Zone charity event. (Pia Valtierra photo)

Earlier, in a round-robin match, the Gaytans nearly beat Morales/Ojeda, falling 17-15.

Ojeda, who plays full-time on the PPA Tour, said this was the second time she’s played with Morales.

“We played a tournament in Salt Lake City for the PPA — it was (called) a blind date. And we did really well together. So she asked to play in this tournament and I said, ‘Of course, I’d love to.’

“It’s fun playing with her. With her touch game, and her being a lefty, she essentially can set me up to do what I love to do, which is poach and take over and smash the ball.”

Saturday’s win was her second of the tournament. On Friday, she teamed with Andy Silverstein to win the mixed doubles 5.0 competition.

Ojeda credits her mother, Kelly, for getting her interested in pickleball.

Kenny Loggins admires his shot during celebrity match. (Pia Valtierra photo)

“You know, being a tennis player, it felt like I was above pickleball,” said Bryanna. “And then I saw her play in the APP-New York tournament. I got the bug from watching. I was like, ‘I have to, I have to try this out.’ So, I finally started playing after that tournament and I haven’t stopped.”

It was an all-local final in the 50-over division of the 4.5-plus group. Denise Tisdale of Goleta and Jill Roberts of Santa Barbara defeated Santa Barbara’s Jill Sharkey/Jules Hastings, 15-7.

In the women’s 4.0, 61-under final, long-time local high school volleyball coach Tina Brown and partner Nancy Hamilton won the gold medal over Tristin Tracy/Jamara (Maren) Fry, 15-11.

The men’s doubles competition will wrap up the tournament on Sunday.