The John Burroughs High School Classes of 1972, 1974, 2001, 2004 and the soon 2008 gathered at George Izay Park to watch the softball rivalry between the Indians of John Burroughs High and the Bulldogs of Burbank High School.

The JBHS Colón alumni included me, my wife, Yvonne, my daughters Amanda, Tiffany, and Cassandra ( Cassie).

My wife played softball for the Indians on the first girl's team, as well as in college; Amanda played 1997-2001 and NCAA (Tiffany is an accomplished artist and writer). Cassie is a senior at Burroughs and will join her mother and sister, playing at the college level.

So, having an entire family of JBHS fans at the game was especially heart-warming for us. At the same time, we knew it was the end of our run as Cassie would be the last from our immediate family to attend any of the Burbank schools.

On the mound for the Indians (3-5) was Kerry Hodgins, with Katie Budrick behind the plate; each playing in the same sister shadow as Colón.

The Burbank (10-0) battery included pitcher Kristin Peraza and catcher Alexis Hernandez. The first two innings were uneventful for both teams as Burbank sent seven batters to the plate with four striking out; Burroughs countered with seven batters of their own (six struck out).

In the top of the third inning, the first Bulldog batter was walked, then advanced as the second batter reached on an error by Liz Hanna. Four batters later, the dust settled and Burbank led 2-0.

Peraza's pitching (more on this later) was "on" as the Indians went down in order, striking out. In the 4th inning both sides were retired 1-2-3. Hodgins walked the lead off Bulldog, to open the 5th inning. Four batters later (one error and a single), Burbank added two runs. Peraza again held off the Indians, in the bottom of the inning, as she recorded strikeouts 11,12, and 13.

The only high point of the game for Burroughs came when Colón hit a single off of Peraza, in the 6th inning. The game ended after seven innings, as the Bulldogs defeated the Indians 4-0.

The Bulldogs played to the level of the historic rivalry between the two schools. Kudos goes to Burbank's new head coach, Nicole Drabecki, who truly understood the rivalry.

The Indians belied the saying, "We Got Game." The only questionable note in the evening came from an unusual practice by Peraza. Before she hurled the first live pitch of the game, dirt was visible on the right thigh of her uniform.

Naturally, athletes playing outdoor sports are prone to getting dirty, but before the game even starts? Throughout the game, Peraza scooped up a small amount of dirt and would rub it on her uniform (during the sixth and seventh innings she did this between almost 30 pitches).

After "cleaning" her hands of the dirt, Peraza proceeded to rub the ball against her thigh. There are those who claim this affect is scuffing the softball. So what's the big deal? Scuffing a baseball or softball makes it easier for a pitcher to grip the ball. To scuff the ball deliberately would give an unfair advantage.

Crescenta Valley High School has made an issue of the scuffing claim whenever they face Burbank and Peraza. For those baseball and softball "experts" who may read this blog: What do you think? Is the action described above part of the game or is it scuffing? I am not sure, so I welcome your input.