The North Bothell Little League team’s magical run came to an end on Thursday night as Bend South, from Oregon, beat Bothell, 4-3, in the semifinal game, which was televised on ESPN2 from San Bernardino, Calif. North Bothell was eliminated from the tournament.

A group of about 70 North Bothell Little League fans and friends stormed the Hilton Garden Inn in Bothell to watch the game (see video).

After Bend struck for two runs in the first inning, Bothell answered right back as leadoff hitter Elijah Diggins doubled to left field, and starting pitcher Derek Lohr doubled over the right fielder’s head to score Diggins.

Lohr then stole third and scored on Carson Ryder’s RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

Oregon struck again in the third, plating a run to take the lead, but again Bothell responded.

Lohr helped his own cause with a single to third, and advanced to second on a passed ball. Ryder again came up big, lacing an RBI double to right, scoring Lohr and tying the game at 3-3.

Featuring a knee-buckling curveball that froze many Bend hitters, Lohr reached the Little League-mandated pitch limit of 85 pitches after 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs while striking out seven.

In the fifth, Bend’s Cal Waterman was hit by a pitch and later came around to score the eventual winning run on Cameron Davis’ single to right.

After an error put Bend runners on second and third, Ryder, playing shortstop, made a great play to field a grounder on a hop and fired to catcher Austin Baek to get Davis at the plate, keeping it 4-3.

Unfortunately for Bothell, Oregon relief pitcher Troy Viola shut down the home team, throwing three innings of no-hit ball while striking out three to earn the win, ending Bothell’s season.

Bend South will face off against Montana, on ESPN at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, for the Northwest Regional Championship and the right to advance to the Little League World Series next week.