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Tournaments  | Championship | 7/30/2026

Excel Leaves No Doubt at 15u Hoover Classic

Kinley Kitchens
Photo: Excel Blue Wave National (Perfect Game)
Excel Blue Wave National wasn’t leaving Hoover empty-handed. 

At least, that was the message head coach Wes Henderson gave his team. 



After a summer filled with strong performances but without a tournament title to show for them, Excel Blue Wave National entered the 2026 15U Perfect Game Hoover Classic with one more opportunity to finish the season the way they wanted. 

This time, they left no doubt. 

Excel Blue Wave National defeated East Coast Sox 2029 Victus, 12-0 in the championship game, combining a balanced offensive attack with a strong performance on the mound to secure their first tournament title of the summer. 

“It’s been a special group,” Coach Henderson said. “They fought really hard, and they played really well this summer, and this is the first championship that we’ve been able to bring home. We typically win some every summer, and I told them we can’t leave without having something,” he added with a laugh. “Hoover has been great, and Perfect Game runs everything very well, so it means a lot to us.”

When the opportunity arrived, Excel's offense delivered from top to bottom. 

Max Boulo led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Cooper Smith added two hits and two RBIs. Ethan Pate also collected two hits and drove in a run, while Axl Hall provided a spark with a triple and three runs scored. 

For Boulo, delivering with runners on base came down to trusting the approach he brought to the plate.

“Pull something early,” Boulo said. “See if I can get a fastball early, and if I did, I was going to get my barrel out front, and I did.”

His three RBI were part of a balanced offensive effort that reflected the chemistry this group has built over several seasons together. 

The majority of the roster has spent the past three years playing alongside one another, creating a foundation that coach Henderson said made team chemistry come naturally. Even with several new additions this summer, it didn’t take long for those players to become part of the team. 

“Luckily, majority of these guys have played together the past three seasons, so the chemistry is already there,” Coach Henderson said. “We added three or four new players, but you’ve just got to talk to them because they’re a fun group and make it easy to fit in. Real low-pressure type of situation. A lot of them are ballers, so it wasn’t hard at all.”

Boulo experienced that connection firsthand. After two years with Blue Wave National, ending another summer together with a championship only reinforced how much the team means to him. 

“It feels great,” Boulo said. “I have played with them for two years now, and I wouldn’t change it for the world at this point. So, I’ll probably be here for the rest of my time.”

While the offense provided plenty of support, Jack Crook gave Excel exactly what they needed on the mound. 
The 2029 right-hander worked four innings, allowed four hits without issuing a walk and striking out three. Crook consistently worked in the 79-81 mph range with his fastball, while mixing in a curveball around 70 mph, keeping the opposing lineup in check while the BLUE WAVE offense continued to build its advantage. 

For Coach Henderson, performances like those were the result of allowing his players to trust themselves rather than becoming consumed by the championship setting. 

His pregame message reflected that. 

“Play their game, and don’t worry about the opponent,” Coach Henderson said. “Take care of what you can take care of, and then the game will dictate itself. Not too high on the highs, not too low on the lows, just coach talk.”

That steady approach helped Excel Blue Wave National finish a summer of baseball with the one thing that had been motivating them: a championship.

They didn’t simply just find a way to win, they put together one of their most complete performances when it mattered most, closing the tournament with a powerful 12-0 victory over East Coast Sox 2029 Victus. 

And while the Hoover Classic provided a rewarding ending, the players know their development is far from finished. 
Boulo, who is known for his actions at shortstop but showed his versatility at third base during the tournament, already has his sights set on what comes next. His goals are simple: get stronger and continue working on his craft before returning to high school baseball. 

For a group that has spent years growing together, there will always be another skill to sharpen and another challenge ahead. 

But this time they couldn’t leave without a championship, and they didn’t. 
 
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