Sizable accomplishment: Ads celebrate latest title with ‘ball on the wall’
On Sunday, Aug. 2, the team held its 2026 “Ball on the Wall” ceremony, unveiling the 5-foot aluminum sign recognizing the Admirals’ latest state championship.
This one, the fifth-straight in Class 4A, gives FHS a TSSAA-best 15 titles on a rèsumè that remains the best in the state.
It is one of the final forms of recognition each season, following the immediate go-to’s of bleached hair (a tradition for every state tournament) and team-wide leaps into swimming pools (a must-do the night of each championship win).
But long after the hair coloring fades and the uniforms dry out, this sign will remain.
Because each baseball is so large, this year’s version was “stacked” on top of two others — a first for a tradition that dates back to 2006.
Everyone around the program, including booster club president Erin Harris, agreed it’s “a good problem to have.”
Since there are now 15 state titles, this ball is the 15th to be drilled into the barrier that sits just a few feet from Kingston Pike.
Each one is specially ordered from Great American Sign Company through representative Steve Carro.
“When we win a state championship, he definitely expects a call from us,” Harris said with a laugh. “We try to get it on the wall before the seniors go off to college.
“And he does all the state championship decals for cars and stuff, too. He’s been a huge support for our program, and we are thankful for him.”
The ceremony itself brought back memories of this team’s impressive run toward its latest crown, which culminated in an 11-5 victory over Houston on Friday, May 22.
It was the Admirals’ fifth win in a row for the 2026 postseason — a fitting nod considering their five-peat.
Also, this win marked their 36th victory of the year, which saw the Ads win 10 of their first 12 games to set the tone for the entire season.
Most of the 2026 players were on hand for Sunday’s event, including several seniors that enjoyed a final chance to be around their FHS teammates before departing for college.
“It is special,” head coach Garrett Copeland said in summation. “Once you get off the bus, this event is the last time that whole group is together.
“It’s nice to do one final recognition for them, and the ball on the wall is a statement that summarizes their success.”
