Braintree, Massachusetts is heading to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The Braintree American 12A team beat Bedford, New Hampshire in the New England Regional Championship game in Bristol, Connecticut Thursday night in a thrilling walk-off win.

Braintree scored on a passed ball with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

Braintree is now a perfect 17-0 this summer. After a quick heroes welcome back home this weekend, they'll will head to Williamsport for the Little League World Series, where they'll face the Southeast champs from Irmo, South Carolina.

Thursday night's game had people back in Braintree on the edge of their seats at watch parties.  They packed restaurants and bars, including the Southside Tavern. 

"The parents, the kids, they all worked so hard," said Sean Powers. "It's just a great feeling. I know they put their heart and soul into this." 

"Braintree is a baseball town," said Kevin Webb of the Southside Tavern. "But this is actually the first time they have gone this far in the Little League World Series and so everybody is excited about it." 

Braintree will play South Carolina Thursday, August 14 at 3 p.m. The game will air on ESPN.

Braintree's road to the Little League World Series

After sweeping their summer schedule and winning the District 8 tournament, the Section 2 tournament, and the Massachusetts state tournament, the Braintree Little Leaguers advanced to the town's first-ever New England Regionals this past week. 

They had no issues in Bristol, Connecticut in the early rounds. Last Saturday, Braintree needed just three innings to crush Maine, 15-0. On Monday, they shut out Vermont 10-0, with the game called in the fifth inning. 

Braintree hadn't allowed a run over eight innings in the New England Regional entering Thursday's game. 

Braintree is the first Massachusetts team to win the New England Regional since Middleboro in 2022. Massachusetts teams have won five New England regional titles since 2001.