North Bothell’s majors baseball squad wins state title

Locals advance to Northwest Regional in California.

North Bothell Little League’s majors baseball all-stars are headed to San Bernardino, California, for Northwest Regional play after winning the state championship on July 28.

The locals defeated Federal Way, 9-8, to snag the title in Richland and will leave for San Bernardino on Aug. 1. North Bothell will play Wyoming at noon on Aug. 4 in its first game.

The North Bothell 12U squad won its third consecutive District 8 title to enter the state tournament, which began on July 20.

North Bothell beat Camas, lost to Pacific the following day and then reeled off seven straight elimination victories to notch the state crown. The locals, who lost twice to Pacific in last year’s state tournament, rebounded from its loss this year to win a loser-out game against Pacific and advance in the tourney.

North Bothell beat Federal Way — heading in from the winner’s bracket — twice: 9-5 on July 27 and then the following day for the title.

In the thrilling championship game on July 28, North Bothell led 4-0 after two innings, Federal Way cut the lead to 4-3 with a three-run homer and took the lead, 8-4, with five runs in the bottom of the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, North Bothell’s Blake Skinner first knocked a two-run homer, and then with two outs and two on, Ethan Wiley hammered a three-run homer to put the locals ahead, 9-8.

North Bothell pitcher Aksel Keim faced the top of the Federal Way order in the bottom of the sixth and shut it down to notch the win.