It was the perfect way for Brian Schroeder to end his perfect season.
Schroeder (12-0) gave up six hits, struck out 12 and walked two to lead JFK-Iselin to a 5-2 win over Shawnee in the Group 3 state championship at Toms River East yesterday.
Shawnee (18-7) scored two runs in the seventh inning.
John Grady led off the inning with a double. One out later he scored on Vince Corbi's grounder to third. Ed Royds then walked. Ryan Haughey hit a pinch-hit single and Kevin Hickey singled home Royds.
That brought John Montemurro - representing the tying run - to the plate. But Schroeder, who had 11 strikeouts over the first four innings, got Montemurro to hit into a game-ending force at second base.
Shawnee starter Anthony Montefusco had 11 strikeouts over seven innings but gave up five runs, four earned.
JFK-Iselin (23-4), which won its first state title, took a 1-0 lead on Schroeder's home run in the fourth inning.
The Mustangs added three more runs in the fifth, including one on a throwing error and another on a double steal.
They scored their final run in the seventh on three consecutive walks and a sacrifice fly by Alex Weinstein. *