Des Moines, Iowa — Don Bosco hasn’t won a state championship since 1978.
With a 9-1 win over Kingsley-Pierson in the Class 1A semifinals on Thursday, the Dons are just one win away from winning another.
Don Bosco (19-1) erupted for four runs in the first two innings, and its defense held strong for the remainder of the contest against Kingsley-Pierson (16-3).
Dons pitcher Lewis Havel allowed four hits and struck out seven in the winning effort. Offensively, teammates Cael Frost and Ryan Naughton each totaled two hits. Frost added two RBIs.
Overall, the Dons tallied eight hits.
Don Bosco jumped on the board early. An RBI double from Dillon Welter and an RBI single by Easton Larson plated the Dons’ two runs in the first innings.
Then in the second, Lewis Havel singled, bringing in Naughton. Frost would score moments later on a passed ball.
The Dons would add four more runs in the sixth for good measure.
Kingsley-Pierson’s offense came from Damon Schmid, Evan Neumann, Boe Harvey, and Damon Bowman — the only players to tally hits. The Panthers’ lone run came in the fifth when a passed ball scored Neumann.
Don Bosco will face the winner of six-seed Newman and two-seed Remsen St. Mary’s on Saturday in the 1A state championship.
