DES MOINES, Iowa - The top-ranked Solon Spartans finished its season on top, winning its first state baseball championship title as they defeated Carroll Kuemper Catholic 5-2 in the Class 2A final Saturday afternoon at Principal Park.

In Solon’s first appearance in the title game in school history, starting pitcher Brandon Shulista did not disappoint. Shulista (12-0) tossed an impressive complete-game victory over the Knights. He gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits. Shulista walked three and struck out three.

Kuemper took an early 1-0 lead as Cody Williams singled to lead off the game. Kyle Pudenz hit a single of his own to advance Williams to third and Williams later scored on a ball-four wild pitch to Ethan Schoeppner.

The Spartans wasted no time in taking the lead, pushing across two runs in the bottom of the first. Marshall Koehn walked and advanced all the way to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt from Kuemper pitcher Hank Olmstead. Derrick Loveless was also able to coax a walk from Olmstead and Tyler Smith flew a ball into left field for a sacrifice fly. Shawn Olson followed with a run-scoring single to give Solon a 2-1 lead.

Solon tacked two more on in the second inning and made some history doing it. Travis Brimeyer hit a one-out single and later scored on an RBI triple from Koehn. He then scored on an RBI double from Nick Day. Day’s two-bagger gave Solon a total of 130 doubles on the season and set a new Iowa high school record. The previous record was 129 doubles set by Davenport Assumption in 1999.

The Knights had more than few chances to score more runs as they were able to put the leadoff man on in the second, third and fourth innings. Tyler Naberhaus doubled to lead off the second before Shulista retired the next three in order. In the top of the third, Williams walked before Pudenz hit into a double play. Bryce Berg singled as the first batter in the fourth and the bases were loaded with one out but Dillon Rupiper grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The Spartans scored a run in the fifth on an RBI single from Ryan Butler and Kuemper added a late run in the top of the seventh on a two-out error on the first baseman Butler.

Solon captured its first title, for school and head coach, in its third trip to the state tournament. The Spartans lost in the semifinals the past two seasons. They end the season on a 26-game win streak and with a 41-2 record — having been ranked #1 in the preseason poll and all throughout the season.

Kuemper ends at 27-10.