The Gray-New Gloucester/Raymond Little League all-stars beat a team from Massachusetts 2-1 on Thursday night in Bristol, Connecticut, to advance to the Little League Baseball World Series.

It’s the first time a Maine team has reached the Little League Baseball World Series since Westbrook in 2005.

Gray-New Gloucester/Raymond went undefeated during the district, state and regional tournaments, outscoring opponents 77-8 in 11 games, including a 7-1 victory over the Canton, Massachusetts, team on Monday.

The Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, begins Thursday, and Gray-New Gloucester/Raymond will play its first game at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. The tournament is double-elimination until the U.S. championship and international championship games.

The Little League Baseball World Series championship game is scheduled for Aug. 27.

Paul Koenig is chief digital editor at the Bangor Daily News. He previously spent six years at Maine magazine, as managing editor and then editor. Before that he worked at Old Port magazine, Mainebiz and...