The Live Oak 10-12 Softball team is the 2026 Little League Softball West Regional Champions. Photo by Ryan Dudek

SAN BERNARDINO, CA (MPG) - The Live Oak 10-12 softball team punched their ticket to the Little League Softball World Series after winning the West Regional Tournament on July 23.

Live Oak defeated Summerlin South LL (Nevada) 2-1 in the championship game and finished the tournament undefeated.

LO previously beat SS 4-1 on July 21, which advanced them to the championship game.

LO pitcher Charlotte Dudek started the game inside the circle for the first time of the tournament and owned it early in the game.

LO coach Mitchell Perigo expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that the coaching staff had a good feeling with Dudek in the circle as she primarily shut down the Nevada lineup on July 21 as she came in relief.

Live Oak pitcher Charlotte Dudek (11) tosses a pitch on July 23 in the win over Summerlin South LL. Photo by Ryan Dudek

Dudek pitched three innings of relief in that game where she retired the first seven hitters she faced.

Perigo added that after seeing the SS hitters in the previous meeting, that he believed they would chase higher pitches out of the zone.

Dudek and Nevada’s Raelyn Lingenfelter had a pitchers duel during the first three innings of the game as both offenses had one hit each.

Dudek tossed all six frames where she allowed two hits, but struck out 10 and tossed 21 first-pitch-strikes.

Nevada scored the first run of the game in the fourth as infielder Isabella Vu grounded out to first to bring in Lingenfelter and take a 1-0 lead.

Live Oak roared back in the bottom half of the inning as the top of the lineup led with three-straight singles and Dudek’s single brought in Eveya Martinez from second to tie the game at one.

With runners on second and third, LO infielder Riley Perigo hit the ball to the right side.

The out brought in Juliana Robles from third and Live Oak led 2-1 after four.

Both hitting lineups were held scoreless in the fifth and Live Oak needed three outs to clinch the West Regional banner.

Live Oak embraces one another after winning the West Regional tournament. Photo by Ryan Dudek

 

Dudek retired the first two batters with ease. Lingenfelter battled for a walk that extended the game and the bases were eventually loaded for SS catcher Laila Washington.

With a 3-2 count, Washington hit a slow roller to Martinez at short and as Martinez attempted to make a play, she initially threw the ball wide of first.

After the play finished, the third base umpire raised his hands and called the runner from second out for runners interference.

After a plea from the SS coach the umpiring crew had a conference on the field and upheld the original call.

Little League rule 7.09(j) says runner's interference occurs as an offensive (runner) action that impedes, hinders or confuses a defensive player attempting to make a play.

The play was also declared unreviewable for video replay.

The Live Oak faithful cheered loud as the call was official.

As they punched their ticket to LLSWS, Live Oak will depart on Wednesday, July 29 for Greeneville, North Carolina.

They will open the LLSWS on Sunday, August 2 versus Owensboro, Kentucky at 1 p.m PST on ESPN 2.