North Bothell claims Washington state Little League title

The voyage to San Bernardino, Calif., begins with a shower of sparkling cider on the infield at Fort Vancouver Little League.

At least that’s how it started Saturday for the boys from North Bothell, who won the Little League 11-12 year-old state baseball title with a 5-3 victory over Kent. And then they celebrated.

The victory sends North Bothell to a regional tournament in California, where it will compete with other state champions for a spot in the Little League World Series at South Williamsport, Pa.

Elijah Diggins delivered the big blow for North Bothell, hitting a two-out three-run homer to cap a five-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth.

“I was just hoping to make solid contact,” said Diggins, who had struck out in his first two at-bats. “It was a curveball. I knew it was coming because he’d been throwing it to me all day and I hadn’t been hitting it.”

Carson Ryder and Josh Kollman started the big inning with doubles. Two outs later, Jacob Yost hit a single, and Ryan Jorgenson followed with a walk before Diggins’ homer.

That was all the support that Ryder needed on the mound. He allowed three runs in the third inning, with two of them coming on a homer by Ben Wadowski, but shut out Kent in the other five frames.

“He threw great. Just awesome,” coach Mark Ryder said.

Carson Ryder allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five. Yost got the final two outs, including a fly ball to center field with two men on, after Ryder was lifted when he reached the Little League-mandated pitch limit.

“We knew we could pull through,” Ryder said. “We trusted ourselves. I knew our hitting would come through, so all I had to do was throw strikes.”

And crack open the sparkling cider.

NORTH BOTHELL 5, KENT 3

Kent 003 000–3 6 1

North Bothell 000 50x–5 7 2

Kent

Pitching — Jake Anderson (4+ IP, loss, 5R, 5ER, 7H, 3BB, 5K), Ben Wadowski (1 IP, 2K). Highlights — Ben Wadowski, 1-2, HR, 2RB, 1R, 1BB; Shane McGuire, 2-3, 1R; Jake Anderson, 1-3, 2B, R; Travis Hansen, 1-3; Bennett Harrison, 1-2.

North Bothell

Pitching–Carson Ryder (5 1/3 IP, win, 3R, 3ER, 6H, 2BB, 4K), Jacob Yost ( 2/3 IP, save). Highlights — Elijah Diggins, 1-3, HR, 3RB, 1R; Austin Baek, 1-2, BB; Derek Lohr, 1-2, 2B, BB; Carson Ryder, 1-3, 2B, R; Josh Kollman 1-3, 2B, R; Miles Jackson, 1-3; Jacob Yost, 1-2, R.