The Washington State champion North Bothell Little League team rallied from an early 5-1 deficit to win their opening game of the Little League Northwest Regional Tournament, defeating Abbott-O-Rabbit from Alaska 14-9.

Sam Petritz led the way offensively for Bothell, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, with five other players – Austin Baek, Derek Lohr, Carson Ryder, Josh Kollman and Nick Aucott – notching two hits apiece. One of Lohr’s hits was a home run which he launched to lead off the fifth inning.

North Bothell continues pool play on Sunday against Lewiston, Idaho, which beat Oregon’s Bend South Little League 9-6 earlier this evening.

The state champion junior softball team from Northshore, North Bothell and Woodinville Little Leagues lost their opener in the West Region Tournament in Marana, Ariz. 5-2 to Northern California-Marysville. The girls next play against Waialua Little League from Hawaii on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.