BRISTOL, Conn. — The Fairfield American Little Leaguers left no doubt which of New England's best teams deserved a trip to Williamsport, Pa.

The Connecticut state champions dominated every facet of the game Saturday, pounding Bedford, 14-0, to advance to the Little League World Series.

Fairfield, which outscored its foes 60-8, will meet the West champion Thursday. Bedford ended with a 3-3 record.

The first three batters in Connecticut's order — Ryan Meury, Biagio Paoletta and Will Lucas — combined for seven hits, 8 RBIs and scored nine runs. Lefthander Matt Kubel, 4-0 in the tournament, scattered six hits, walked two and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings. Only the Little League pitch-count rules prevented him from completing the game.

“We marched through our district tournament, marched through our state championship and knew in coming here that we had to play some really good baseball,” Bedford manager Kevin Lavigne said. “We were unaccustomed to playing close games as we played down here. The boys really learned some valuable baseball lessons, the importance of playing good defense and the importance for pitchers in working ahead in counts.

“It's been a great run. We're playing baseball and it's August 11. It doesn't get much better than that unless we were playing Thursday in Williamsport.”

Bedford starter Tim Saltzman retired the first two Connecticut hitters but Lucas, Kubel and Kevin Oricoli (3-for-5, 3 RBI) ripped singles on successive pitches to produce a run. The runners moved up a base on the errant throw home, but Saltzman limited the damage when Michael Ghiorzi grounded to third.

Bedford threatened to even it up in the home first.

Grant Lavigne laced a one-out triple through the alley in left center with one out. Lavigne went on contact when Alec Burns grounded to third, but catcher Paoletta deftly blocked the plate as he received Oricoli's pinpoint throw. Manager Lavigne's intent was to establish momentum.

“We were trying to be aggressive early in the game, trying to get something going against a very good Fairfield team, and we had to make some opportunities for ourselves,” he said. “It was a play where we were trying to force something. In hindsight, I might have played it a little differently, but the final score being what it was, I don't think it was that big of a play.”

Grant Lavigne was unable to come up with Paoletta's hot smash to short starting the third and it soon became an unearned run. Paoletta took second on a wild pitch and scored on Lucas' single to right. Oricoli belted an RBI double to the base of the wall in left center, scoring Lucas and prompting a pitching change.

Kevin Lavigne summoned Connor Collins to the hill and he put out the fire.

Connecticut continued its relentless attack in the fourth, benefiting from more defensive mistakes. Meury singled to left and was soon perched at third after two passed balls. He scored easily on Lucas' single to left.

Connecticut's 4-0 lead could have been much worse after stranding seven runners through four frames. Bedford needed baserunners, but Kubel, a rangy lefthander, was yielding them grudgingly. When the New Hampshire champions did put runners on, they were unable to deliver a clutch hit.

Connecticut put it away in the fifth, and once again Lucas was in the middle of it. His two-run single was at the core of a five-run rally that included RBI hits by Meury and Oricoli.

Paoletta's grand slam was the big blow in the five-run sixth. The Connecticut catcher ended the tournament with 18 RBIs.

Grant Lavigne had three of Bedford's seven hits, falling just a home run short of the cycle. Collins, Brennan Hughes, Joey Barrett and Joe Quintal had the other hits, all singles.

Kubel prevented a Bedford uprising by mixing and spotting his pitches with precision. He threw 89 pitches, 65 of them strikes.

“The real positive thing for him is he worked ahead in a lot of his counts,” Kevin Lavigne said. “He very effectively mixed in a second pitch. I tip my hat to him.”

Bedford stranded eight runners. Kubel retired the first batter in every inning.

“Anytime we got guys on base, we had one or two outs,” the manager said. “It takes away some of your ability to be aggressive.”

Fairfield manager Bill Meury had high praise for the Bedford team and its followers.

“The New Hampshire team, the parents and all the fans were first class,” he said. “They have a lot of kids who can swing the bats but (Kubel) was having a good night and frustrating them a little bit. They're a terrific team but Matty just threw a very good game.”