CONCORD — Bedford's plate discipline proved quite valuable in its 9-2 victory over Lamprey River of Raymond in the first game of the best-of-three 11-and-12-year-old Little League state championship series held at Concord's Grappone Park.

Swinging only at strikes, the District I champs displayed a discerning eye to draw 10 walks, smack 10 hits and put the game away with a four-run third-inning rally involving 10 trips to the plate.

The Bulldogs (6-0) can sweep the series by winning today's 4 p.m. game. District II champion Lamprey River (8-3) must win in order to force a winner-take-all finale on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. The action takes place back at Grappone Park.

Grant Lavigne, experiencing perhaps one of the best-ever hitting streaks of any Granite State Little League all-star, was the most discriminating Bedford batter. He sent the first pitch sent his way well over the right field fence and then kept his bat on his shoulder while walking on four straight pitches his next three trips to the plate.

Lavigne scored three runs and also served as the winning pitcher, allowing six hits while striking out four before leaving the game with one out in the sixth after exceeding the mandatory 85-pitch count.

“I only swing at strikes that are good pitches to hit,” said the 12-year-old after clouting his ninth homer of the tourney while going 14-of-16 from the plate and reaching base in every at bat, save the one time he struck out.

Lavigne was reaching second base before his towering first-inning dinger came back to earth, landing atop a 15-foot high embankment, perhaps 300 feet from home.

“This team (Bedford) can hit the ball and they are disciplined at the plate. We have to respect that and not give them much to hit. That was quite a shot,” said Lamprey River coach Mark Dupuis of Lavigne's homer.

Bedford batters have tallied 83 runs in six tourney games. But, the Longhorns weren't intimidated.

Lamprey River's Tucker Arnold tied the game in the top of the third inning with a solo homer that just cleared the center field fence.

“That was a well-hit ball,” said Lavigne of Arnold's homer. “He hit a good fastball.”

Playing its second game in 14 days, Bedford drew three walks and collected four hits to score four times in the third. It took advantage of two errors, worked three free passes and managed one hit while adding two more runs in the fourth.

“We weren't quite game ready due to the long layoff and not quite as sharp as we're capable of being,” said Bedford coach Kevin Lavigne. “These guys have a good understanding of the strike zone and have good count awareness when at the plate.”

Bedford's Alec Burns drove home two runs and scored twice. Connor Zendzian added three singles while Brennan Hughes worked two walks.

Lamprey River shortstop Andrew Dupuis, today's probable starting pitcher, threw out two Bedford batters at the plate, nailing one tagging from third after making an over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left and getting another by cutting off a throw from center and throwing a 100-foot strike to catcher Andrew Lufkin.

Eric Reardon had a two-hit day, plating Arnold in the fourth inning.

“We made a couple of mistakes and got out of the game we wanted to play. But it's only one game. The players pride themselves on being resilient. That's the Longhorns way. We hope to play well (today) and force a three-game series,” said Dupuis.

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Eric Emmerling may be reached at eemmerling@unionleader.com.