Knowing nothing about Johnsonburg’s lineup didn’t stop Derek Boben from dominating it.

Moniteau’s senior pitcher tossed a three-hit shutout in the Warriors’ 1-0 victory in Wednesday’s District 9 Class AA baseball semifinal at Kelly Automotive Park.

The victory sends Moniteau to the district championship game against Cranberry next week at a date, site and time to be determined.

Boben is now 7-0 on the season. He entered Wednesday with a miniscule ERA of 0.44.

“I was blind coming into this game,” Boben admitted. “We couldn’t find anything out about them (Rams). I just wanted to give everything I had and I knew my teammates would do the same.”

Boben struck out eight and walked four, out-dueling Johnsonburg’s Austin Amacher, who allowed the one run on eight hits.

“We were prepared to face him today,” said Johnsonburg coach Jeff Peterson of Boben, “but his curveball got us. We froze on it.”

Boben had a hand in the game’s lone tally.

Aaron Marterella singled to lead off the bottom of the third inning. He advanced to second base on Boben’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Kaleb Eshenbaugh’s two-out single.

Boben was mentally prepared for a pitcher’s duel.

“I want to throw a no-hitter every time out,” he said. “That’s how I look at every game.”

Boben received flawless play behind him, including a double play that ended the top of the fourth. With runners on first and second and one out, Turner Amacher hit a groundball to third baseman Jake McBride, who stepped on the bag and threw on to Eshenbaugh at first.

Boben set the Rams (11-7) down in order in the fifth and sixth. He walked Mike Covac to start the seventh. Austin Amacher laid down a sacrifice bunt to put a baserunner at second, but Boben closed the door on Johnsonburg’s season with a pair of strikeouts.

“All of my pitches were working for me today, but my curveball was definitely my best,” he said.

“He probably wasn’t as sharp as he is at times,” said Moniteau coach Ross Martin of his ace. “But he had a nice mix of pitches and it was a heck of an effort.”

Moniteau (15-2) lost the District 9 championship game a year ago to Karns City. The Warriors will now prepare to face Cranberry and its ace pitcher Dylan Cyphert.

“We beat Cranberry earlier this season (6-0 on April 16),” said Boben, “but Cyphert didn’t pitch that game. We came up short in the title game last year and it’s great to be back. We’re looking to bury them.”

“Getting to the final is a goal we set every spring,” said Martin. “The kids work hard and it’s a family atmosphere on this team.”

Johnsonburg 000 000 0 — 0 3 1

Moniteau 001 000 x — 1 8 0

W: Derek Boben 7 IP (8K, 4BB). L: Austin Amacher 6 IP (1K, 1BB).

Johnsonburg (11-7): Mike Covac 2B, Austin Amacher 1B, John Mitchell 1B

Moniteau (15-2): Aaron Marterella 1B R, Derek Boben 1B, Kaleb Eshenbaugh 1B 2B RBI, Zach Jewart 2-1B, Austin Blauser 2-1B

Next: Moniteau vs. Cranberry, District 9 Class AA championship game, TBD