Totino-Grace’s motto for the baseball season was “one team, one goal.”

That goal was clear-cut from the outset of the campaign. Eagles coach Mike Smith asked every player what was his goal for the season.

“I think every guy on the team wrote, ‘State championship,’ ” senior third baseman Noah Hill said.

The goal was reached Saturday at Target Field, as the fourth-seeded Eagles held off second-seeded Mahtomedi 2-1 in the Class 3A state title game to win the program’s first state championship.

“It’s a pretty big moment for us,” said junior pitcher Tommy Heifort, who tossed a complete game, surrendering just four hits while striking out eight.

Mahtomedi junior Ethan Felling — a Texas Christian commit — was also dominant, allowing just four hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. But those runs came early, with the Eagles scoring in the first and third innings. Hill drove in both runs with singles to the outfield.

“Not my best swings I’ve ever had in my life, but that’s baseball. It gets it done,” Hill said. “It’s kind of how it’s been all year. Battling through, getting runs, anyway on. It’s just a team. It’s a bunch of best friends, so we all battle for each other. Anyway to get it done.”

Felling noted that after Totino-Grace (19-8) plated its two runs, he was anticipating the Zephyrs (22-5) would respond, as they often do.

“But, obviously, it’s tough when they have a stud going on the mound,” Felling said. “We fell into a little bit of a hole there, and then we couldn’t get the momentum turned around. It was tough.”

Austin Felling had a pair of hits for the Zephyrs, while first baseman Max Strecker added another. Strecker said Mahtomedi is a “situational hitting team.” He noted the Zephyrs’ at-bats improved as the game wore on. Mahtomedi got on the board in the sixth, with Gunnar Sather scoring on a double steal.

Heifort struck out the next batter to end the threat. And in the bottom of the seventh, with seemingly all the pressure in the world on his shoulders, the pitcher found himself cracking a smile.

He wasn’t pondering the thought of the Zephyrs tying the game. All the junior was thinking about was closing in on a state title. He retired the side in order, striking out the last two batters to secure the title and cue the celebration.

“It’s unbelievable,” Hill said of the celebration. “It’s so fun. I’ve never had that feeling before.”

For Mahtomedi, being on the opposite end was an all-too-familiar feeling. The Zephyrs finished second for a second straight season after falling to New Prague in the title game a year ago.

“So it’s starting to get to the part where it’s like, ‘When are we going to come through and get it done?’ ” Ethan Felling said. “Yeah, it’s tough, but it’s awesome that they put on this event, and having it at Target Field makes it so much cooler for our guys.”

It was a grand stage fitting for the conclusion of not only a season but an era. Ethan Felling was the only non-senior in Mahtomedi’s batting order Saturday. The other eight have played together for the past seven or eight years.

“Being able to be on the biggest stage with them in our last game with them as seniors is pretty special,” Austin Felling said. “We’re an awesome group, we’re very tight, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Well, maybe with a win. But it was awesome.”