CELEBS PLAY 10-PIN ALLEY FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

CHATSWORTH - When it comes to fund-raisers, stars usually like to raise tees and glasses at the Riviera Country Club, Beverly Hilton Hotel or other trendy hot spots.

But in the San Fernando Valley on Saturday, celebrity fund drives hit a new stride: bowling.

More than 150 celebrities, fans and mentally disabled athletes skittered onto AMF Rocket Lanes late Saturday night to raise funds for the Tri-Valley Special Olympics.

``This is actually our first celebrity bowling tournament,'' said Jan Maseda, Tri-Valley area director. ``A really big thanks to all the bowlers. The money goes right to the athletes and makes no detours.''

The celebrity wind-up was expected to include Todd Bridges from ``Diff'rent Strokes,'' radio host Jamie White of Star 98.7-FM (KYSR) and Mia St. John of Playboy and boxing fame.

There would be players going for the mean right hook, the down-and-dirty Brooklyn strike and the center pin.

Not to mention gutter balls and strikes from other expected notables as comedian Roger Townsend; Billy Blanks, avatar of Tai Bo aerobics videos; Dylan and Cole Sprouse of ``Big Daddy''; Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson; Penny Bae, Brooke Marie Bridges and Christoff St. John of ``The Young and the Restless''; and a team from the ``Drew Carey Show.''

Only Carey, the portly star who plays a meat-and-beer loving department store executive from Cleveland, stayed home because of coronary artery surgery Friday.

``Bowling's really hot right now, and that's great,'' said Tony Mendola, manager of AMF Rocket Lanes, which hosts Special Olympics bowling each Saturday morning. ``We're trying to raise between $7,000 and $10,000 for the Special Olympics.''

The Tri-Valley Special Olympics hosts 10 weekly sporting events for 800 disabled kids and adults from the San Fernando Valley, Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena.

More than 400 spectators paid $15 each to watch the celebs, $25 for Extreme Bowling later, and $75 to bowl with the stars. Prizes included a trip to Fiji for two.

Mendola said AMF Rocket Lanes also hosts fund-raisers for cystic fibrosis research, scouting and Junior Achievement. The lanes host Special Olympics bowling each Saturday morning.

For information on how to support the Special Olympics, call [phone].

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Photo:

Bowler Jor Ortag competes in the pro division of the Celebrity Pro-Am fund-raiser at AMF Rocket Lanes in Chatsworth.

John Kennedy/Special to the Daily News