Live Oak snaps Willow Glen streak

Live Oak High School ended Willow Glen’s league run with a 1-0 softball win on May 1, handing the Rams their first Blossom Valley Athletic League loss in Mt. Hamilton Division play this season. The result snapped a 34-game BVAL winning streak by Willow Glen, according to local coverage cited by Morgan Hill Times and the Bay Area News Group. Julianna Altamirano carried Live Oak in the circle. MaxPreps reported that the junior threw a shutout, allowed three hits and struck out 10 as the Acorns avenged a 5-1 loss at Willow Glen on March 25. The game also fit the standings race in the BVAL’s top softball division. (mercurynews.com) The league site lists both Live Oak and Willow Glen in the Mt. Hamilton Division, and MaxPreps showed Willow Glen at 11-1 in league and Live Oak at 8-5 as of mid-May. ### How did Live Oak score the only run? Kayla Tulowitzki came home on a dropped third strike in the decisive sequence, according to the Mercury News recap of May 1 games. (maxpreps.com) The Bay Area News Group story described Live Oak’s win over No. 5 Willow Glen as coming on that play, giving the Acorns all they needed in a pitchers’ duel. (bval.org) MaxPreps identified Tulowitzki as Live Oak’s stolen-base leader with 12 as of May 14. That profile helps explain why one baserunner mattered in a game with almost no offense. ### Why was Willow Glen such a notable opponent? Willow Glen entered the rematch as one of the stronger programs in the section. Morgan Hill Times, in a republication captured by NewsBreak, said the Rams had become a Central Coast Section softball power in recent seasons and reached the CCS Open Division final in 2025 behind pitcher Alanna Clincy. (mercurynews.com) (maxpreps.com) The Rams’ 2026 schedule also showed they had beaten Live Oak 5-1 on March 25 and were leading the Mt. Hamilton standings before the May 1 loss. By May 9, MaxPreps listed Willow Glen at 18-6 overall and 11-1 in league. ### What did the win say about Live Oak’s roster? Julianna Altamirano had already drawn attention before the upset. (newsbreak.com) Morgan Hill Times reported on April 24 that Altamirano had recently been ranked the No. 2 player in the Western Region and the No. 9 national uncommitted pitcher by Extra Inning Softball. Live Oak also was not starting from scratch as a program. (maxpreps.com) Morgan Hill Times wrote in June 2025 that the Acorns went 24-3 last season, finished 16-0 in the BVAL Santa Teresa Division and posted the best record in school history. That recent record gives context to the May 1 result. Live Oak was moving up against a first-place Mt. (morganhilltimes.com) Hamilton opponent, and the Acorns’ earlier success under coach Sarah Porras had already included a CCS title in 2023, according to Morgan Hill Times archives. ### Where did the teams stand after the upset? (morganhilltimes.com) May 13 results left both teams still active in league play. MaxPreps reported that Live Oak beat Westmont 14-4 on May 13 and listed the Acorns at 10-8 overall, 8-5 in league, while Willow Glen beat Gilroy 7-0 the same day and remained 11-1 in league. The next scheduled games were set for May 15. (morganhilltimes.com) MaxPreps listed Live Oak at Gilroy and Willow Glen at Leigh, both with 4 p.m. starts. (maxpreps.com)