The Don Bosco Dons got off to an early lead and never gave the lead back to defeat the Tri-Center Trojans 11-1, Saturday night at Principal Park to advance them to the semifinals of the Iowa High School Baseball Class 1A playoffs.  Don Bosco scored one run in the bottom half the first to get out to an early lead that started with Cade Schares getting hit by a pitch. Schares was brought Austin Miller’s single to shallow right.

Baylor Bedard got the start for Don Bosco and gave the Dons 5.1 strong innings of work where he allowed no runs from four hits and four walks, while striking out seven batters. The Dons opened it up in the bottom half of the second with five runs from three hits, two errors and two walks from starting pitcher Konnor Handy. Handy was chased after 2.1 innings of work where he allowed seven runs, five earned, from six hits and three walks, while striking out three.

Tri-Center was held scoreless until the top of the sixth when Handy ripped a single up the middle off Trever Brown that scored Kaleb Harrison who reached on a walk.  Don Bosco finished the game early in the bottom of the sixth by putting three runners across home plate to initiate the 10-run rule after five. Don Bosco will take on West Sioux Thursday at 1:30 in the second class 1A semifinal game.