After letting out a loud grunt, Heckman gathered himself upright to show the rest of his Cardinal teammates that he indeed secured the catch, with fans at Herb Wolf Field applauding the quick reaction. It was just one of those days for Heckman.

Every start he’s had in the 2026 season has been seen as progress from the Fairmont coaching staff, and this was no different. The sophomore tossed a complete game gem for the Cardinals. Allowing one earned run and striking out eight batters, Heckman’s performance helped Fairmont defeat the Saints 8-1 on a cold, windy Tuesday afternoon.

“He just continues to get a little bit better every game, and today was just that,” Fairmont baseball assistant coach Matt Lytle said. “He did great at pounding the strike zone. He only had two walks, one of which came around to score in the first inning. But other than that, he was pretty efficient today.”

Through the first four innings, both starting pitchers kept opposing hitters off balance.

Photo by Jake Olson: Fairmont catcher Joseph Hacket sprints down the first base line after laying down a bunt in the fifth inning of Tuesday's contest against St. James Area at Herb Wolf Field.

St. James Area’s Sawyer Olson bounced back after Vincent Schultz’s RBI single – his first of three hits – scored Mason Bicknase to give Fairmont a 2-1 lead. Olson worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second by striking out Joey Crissinger, then retired the Cardinals efficiently over the next two innings. He carried six strikeouts into the fifth.

“Their pitcher had us guessing for the first couple of innings,” Lytle said. “He’s a really good pitcher around the zone with a pretty live arm. It took us a couple of times through the [batting] order to figure him out.”

A lead-off single from Crissinger ignited the Cardinals’ offense in the fifth inning. Joseph Hackett followed with a bunt that the Saints’ defense couldn’t handle, and Nolyn Goerndt loaded up the bases with a rocket up the middle.

After Bicknase drew a walk, No. 8 and No. 9 hitters Schultz and Joe Long delivered back-to-back RBI hits that extended Fairmont’s advantage to four runs. Each of the bottom four batters for the Cardinals reached base or recorded a hit during the offensive barrage.

“It’s huge when those guys can get on any way, hits, walks, or anything,” Lytle said. “When they can get on for the top of our lineup, we are a pretty good team.”

Photo by Jake Olson: Fairmont's Vincent Schultz prepares to swing the bat during Tuesday's contest against St. James Area at Herb Wolf Field. Schultz finished the game with three hits.

Crissinger put the final run on the inning after his grounder was bobbled by the Saints’ middle infield, bringing in Long to flash an 8-1 lead on the left field scoreboard.

Heckman struck out two more batters in the seventh to complete the Fairmont win, bouncing the team back after last Friday’s 10-run loss at Luverne. The Cardinals will take on Windom Area this Thursday at Island Park. First pitch will start at 5:30 p.m.