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Tournaments  | Championship | 7/29/2026

"Excel"ling Through the Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
Photo: Excel Blue Wave National (Perfect Game)
After a long summer of baseball, Excel Blue Wave National had one final opportunity to end it the way every team hopes to. 

Together, having fun, and as champions.



Excel Blue Wave National closed their summer with a 13-9 victory over Excel Blue Wave American – Morrison to capture the 2026 16U Perfect Game Hoover Classic championship. In a game that required contributions throughout the lineup and seven innings of competition, the Excel Blue Wave National relied on the same qualities and approach that had carried the group all summer. With talent, perseverance and a chemistry built far beyond the baseball field, they were unstoppable. 

For head coach Brennan McCullough, there couldn’t have been a much better way for his players to finish their final weekend together
. 
“It’s great,” Coach McCullough said. “We’ve had a long summer, and this is our last weekend, so when it gets to this point you know you want to go out winning and having fun, and we got to have a lot of fun this weekend and win, so that was a big plus.”

That fun was joined by plenty of offense in the championship game. 

Andrew Thompson helped lead the way, collecting two hits, including a double, while driving in four runs. Asa “Ace” Burns and Navy commit Jude Davidson each added two RBIs, while John Pruet, Brandon Garth Jr. and Kingston Sims each drove in a run. Knox Tyson and Ethan Taylor added two hits and two runs each as full power came from throughout the Blue Wave lineup. 

That balanced performance was fitting for a group Coach McCullough said has never needed much help developing chemistry. 

“Our guys are a very tight-knit group, so their chemistry is all on them.” Coach McCullough said. “I can’t create that. That is all the kids. They’re going to eat together, hanging out, have a group chat, all of those things.”

Those relationships away from the field translated directly to how Excel Blue Wave National competed on it. 
“When you have a group that can play together and have fun, that helps a lot,” Coach McCullough continued. “But the chemistry is not me, that is all those guys just being good kids. All 10 of them being good kids that can hangout and have a good time.” 

On the mound, Burns helped carry that mentality into the championship game. The 2028 right-hander worked four innings, striking out three while allowing five hits and just one walk. Burns worked primarily in 83-87 mph range with his fastball.

Taylor followed with three innings of his own, allowing four hits and one walk as the pair worked together to carry Excel through all seven innings. 

With temperatures climbing, unexpected weather, a long weekend behind them and one final game standing between Excel Blue Wave National and a championship, Coach McCullough knew talent alone wouldn’t be enough. 

His message before the game was about something different. 

“I know it’s hot, it’s going to be a long game, and I know it’s been a long weekend, but we are a good group with a lot of talent,” Coach McCullough said. “I tell them all the time that they’ve got to play with a chip on their shoulder.”
With a championship on the line, Coach McCullough challenged his players to prove that they could be more than just a “talented” group on the field. 

“It wasn’t going to be the team that was the most talented that won today,” McCullough said. “It was going to be the one that was the grittiest and competed for all seven innings, and they did a great job of that.” 

And for seven innings, Excel Blue Wave National accepted that challenge.

Their 13 runs showed the talent throughout the roster, but the championship represented something bigger than what appeared in the box score. It was the result of a group of players who genuinely enjoyed being around one another, trusted each other on the field and continued competing through one final hot summer afternoon in Hoover. 

After a long summer together, Excel Blue Wave National got exactly the ending Coach McCullough hoped for.

They went out winning, having fun, and doing it together. 
 
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Tournaments | Story | 8/7/2026

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