Chapter 12: They Came Prepared
The second game of the group stage drew a bigger crowd than the first.
Word had spread quickly after Rafael’s two-home-run performance against Nueva Esperanza. Students from other schools had started asking about him, and several people near the entrance were already discussing whether he could do it again.
Rafael heard some of it as he walked toward the field, but he paid little attention. He had played in front of much larger crowds before, dealt with expectations far greater than anything waiting for him that afternoon, and learned long ago that noise from the stands had nothing to do with the next pitch.
What caught his attention was San Pedro National.
Their players were already warming up, but their defensive positioning was unusually deliberate. The left fielder was several steps deeper than normal, the center fielder had shaded toward left-center, and even the right fielder was positioned closer to the line.
Rafael stopped near the dugout and studied them.
Then he smiled.
"They came prepared."
Joshua followed his gaze. "What?"
Rafael pointed toward the outfield.
"Look where they’re standing."
Joshua watched for several seconds before his expression changed. Miguel also came over and studied the field.
"They’re expecting him to pull," Miguel said.
Daniel had overheard them and walked over.
"They watched the first game."
Rafael nodded. "Looks like it."
Daniel looked toward San Pedro’s dugout before turning back to his players.
"Good. Then let’s see what they do when the game starts."
San Pedro was the home team, which meant Davao Central would bat first. Daniel had already reminded everyone that the game would be different from their opener.
The opponent had studied them.
Now Davao had to see how well that preparation worked.
Davao Central came to bat in the top of the first.
The first hitter grounded out, and the second followed with a single through the left side. One out.
Then Rafael’s name was announced.
The crowd reacted immediately.
Rafael walked toward home plate and adjusted his batting gloves. Across the field, Adrian Villanueva stood on the mound while the San Pedro defense quietly settled into the alignment they had prepared.
Rafael stepped into the box.
Adrian came set.
The first pitch was outside.
Rafael watched it cross the plate.
"Ball."
The catcher returned the ball, and Adrian took his time before receiving the next sign. The second pitch was a breaking ball that started toward the middle before dropping below the zone.
Rafael didn’t move.
"Ball two."
A few people in the stands began whispering.
Adrian came set again and delivered a fastball toward the outside corner. Rafael watched it all the way and let it pass.
"Strike."
He stepped out briefly and looked around the field.
The defense hadn’t changed. The left fielder was still deep, the center fielder remained shaded toward left-center, and the right fielder was still close to the line.
Rafael stepped back into the box.
The fourth pitch was another fastball outside.
He took it.
"Ball three."
Joshua leaned against the dugout railing.
"They’re not giving him anything."
Daniel nodded. "They’re trying not to."
The fifth pitch came on the outside edge. Rafael tracked it carefully but didn’t swing.
"Ball four."
The crowd reacted with a mixture of cheers and surprise.
Rafael dropped the bat and walked toward first.
Joshua stepped into the box and glanced back at him.
"They’re scared of you."
Rafael smiled.
"No. They’re making a choice."
Joshua understood. If San Pedro refused to challenge Rafael, someone else had to make them pay for the pitches they were willing to throw.
The next hitter stepped in and lined a single into right-center, moving Rafael to third. With one out, the next batter grounded into a force play that removed the runner at second but kept Rafael at third.
Paolo came up with two outs and runners on first and third.
He lined out to center.
The inning ended scoreless.
Rafael returned to the dugout without looking frustrated.
San Pedro had avoided him.
That was their first decision.
San Pedro came to bat in the bottom of the first.
Their leadoff hitter worked a full count before grounding out to short. The next batter singled, but Davao Central’s pitcher recovered quickly and struck out the following hitter.
With two outs, San Pedro tried to start something with another base hit, but the next batter grounded into a force play to end the inning.
Neither team scored.
The game remained 0–0.
Rafael watched from the dugout as San Pedro’s hitters returned to their bench.
They were patient.
They weren’t chasing everything.
It was already clear that this team was more disciplined than Nueva Esperanza.
Rafael liked that.
The top of the second started quietly for Davao Central.
The first hitter grounded out, and the next batter struck out. With two outs, San Pedro’s pitcher appeared to be in control.
Then Joshua stepped into the box and drew a walk.
Rafael watched from the dugout.
Adrian had worked around him in the previous inning, but he wasn’t the only player San Pedro had to deal with.
The next Davao hitter reached on a single, putting runners on first and second. Paolo followed with another groundout, ending the inning before Davao could score.
San Pedro came to bat in the bottom of the second.
Their leadoff hitter singled and stole second. The next batter grounded out, moving the runner to third with one out.
A walk put another runner on first.
The next San Pedro hitter struck out.
Two outs.
The situation looked like it might end without damage, but the following batter drove a sharp single through the left side.
The runner from third scored, and the runner from first advanced to second.
San Pedro National took the early lead, 1–0.
Davao’s pitcher settled down and retired the next hitter on a ground ball.
Rafael watched the runner return to the dugout.
One run.
Nothing more.
They could work with that.
The third inning became a defensive battle.
Davao Central threatened in the top half when Rafael reached on another walk after Adrian refused to challenge him again. Joshua followed with a single, but San Pedro’s infield turned a double play to escape the inning.
In the bottom half, San Pedro reached base twice but couldn’t bring either runner home.
Rafael made a routine catch in right field and threw the ball back toward the infield.
By the end of the third, San Pedro still led 1–0.
The game had become exactly what Rafael expected.
San Pedro wasn’t trying to overpower Davao.
They were trying to control the game.
The fourth inning changed everything.
Davao Central started the top half with a walk.
The next batter struck out.
One out.
Rafael’s name was announced again.
The crowd immediately grew louder.
San Pedro adjusted once more.
The left fielder moved deeper.
The center fielder shaded farther toward left-center.
The right fielder stayed close to the line.
Adrian came set.
The first pitch was a changeup low in the zone.
Rafael watched it pass.
"Ball."
The second pitch came outside.
Rafael took it again.
"Ball two."
Adrian received the sign and came set for the third pitch.
This time, it was a breaking ball.
Rafael recognized it immediately.
The pitch started inside before moving toward the outside corner.
Rafael waited.
Then turned on it.
CRACK!
The sound exploded across the field.
The ball climbed toward deep left-center.
The center fielder turned and ran.
The left fielder chased toward the gap.
Neither player stopped.
The ball kept carrying.
It cleared the fence.
Two-run home run.
The runner from first scored ahead of Rafael, and Rafael followed him around the bases with the same calm expression he had shown during the opener.
The scoreboard changed.
Davao Central 2 — San Pedro National 1.
The Davao dugout erupted.
Joshua was already shouting.
"That’s one!"
Miguel jumped over the railing.
Paolo removed his mask and laughed.
Rafael crossed home plate and pointed toward the dugout.
San Pedro had shifted their defense.
Adrian had changed his approach.
They had tried to remove his favorite hitting lanes.
It didn’t matter when they finally gave him something he could attack.
Rafael had made them pay.
San Pedro’s dugout became noticeably quieter.
Adrian stared toward the outfield fence while Luis Mercado walked beside him.
"We had the field positioned exactly where we wanted."
Adrian nodded.
"And the pitch?"
"Good pitch."
Adrian looked toward Rafael.
"Apparently not good enough."
Luis sighed.
"What do we do now?"
Adrian watched Rafael return to the dugout.
"Don’t give him anything he can crush."
San Pedro came to bat in the bottom of the fourth, but Davao’s defense held.
Their leadoff hitter singled, but a force play removed him at second. The next hitter grounded out, and the final batter struck out looking.
Davao Central carried the 2–1 lead into the fifth.
The fifth inning remained scoreless for both teams.
Davao threatened when Joshua reached base, but San Pedro turned another double play. In the bottom half, Carlo made a diving stop at short to prevent a runner from reaching second, and the inning ended without a run.
San Pedro had stopped treating Rafael like an ordinary hitter.
They were pitching around him.
They were moving their defense.
They were trying to force the rest of Davao’s lineup to beat them.
Rafael noticed.
So did Daniel.
And Daniel wasn’t worried.
The sixth inning was where San Pedro finally found an opening.
Davao Central failed to add to its lead in the top half.
In the bottom half, San Pedro’s first hitter singled. The next batter walked, and another base hit loaded the bases with one out.
Daniel immediately stepped toward the dugout entrance.
"Everybody in!"
The infield moved closer.
The next batter hit a ground ball toward second.
Ethan fielded it and threw home.
Paolo made the tag.
Two outs.
The runners were now on first and second.
The next San Pedro hitter drove a double into the right-center gap.
The runner from second scored.
Davao Central 2 — San Pedro National 2.
The runner from first advanced to third.
The crowd came alive.
San Pedro had tied the game.
The next hitter stepped into the box and lifted a deep fly ball to left.
The runner from third tagged.
He scored.
The sacrifice fly gave San Pedro the lead.
San Pedro National 3 — Davao Central 2.
Three outs.
The inning was over.
Rafael stood in right field for a moment, watching the San Pedro players celebrate.
They had finally broken through.
But the game wasn’t over.
Davao Central came to bat in the top of the seventh trailing 3–2.
The first hitter reached on an error.
Joshua followed with a single through the left side, putting runners on first and second with nobody out.
The next batter laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position.
One out.
Paolo stepped into the box.
San Pedro brought the infield in.
The first pitch was low.
The second caught the corner.
Paolo waited on the third pitch and lifted it deep enough toward center field.
The runner from third tagged and scored.
Joshua remained at second.
"That’s a sacrifice fly!" the umpire called.
Two outs.
The game was tied.
Davao Central 3 — San Pedro National 3.
The next batter grounded out to short.
The inning ended.
Rafael walked back toward the dugout and looked at the scoreboard.
The game was even again.
San Pedro had adjusted.
Davao had answered.
Now both teams had one inning left to decide it.
San Pedro came to bat in the bottom of the seventh.
Their first hitter singled.
The next batter doubled into left-center, putting runners on second and third with nobody out.
Daniel immediately called the infield in.
The next hitter grounded toward third, but Andre made a clean stop and kept both runners from scoring.
One out.
The following batter struck out.
Two outs.
Marco Villareal stepped into the box.
He was San Pedro’s cleanup hitter, the same young player Rafael had studied the night before. Marco had good timing and controlled balance, and unlike several of his teammates, he didn’t seem uncomfortable in difficult counts.
Rafael watched him from right field.
Marco looked toward him.
Rafael looked back.
The pitcher came set.
The first pitch was outside.
Marco took it.
"Strike."
The second pitch came inside.
Marco fouled it away.
"Strike two."
Rafael shifted several steps toward right-center.
Paolo changed the sign.
The pitcher delivered.
Marco swung.
A hard line drive shot toward right-center.
Rafael broke immediately.
The center fielder moved toward the same gap, but Rafael called out.
"Mine!"
The center fielder pulled away.
Rafael tracked the ball, adjusted once, and caught it just above his shoulder.
The runners had to hold.
Three outs.
The inning was over.
The game remained tied, 3–3.
The eighth inning began with Davao Central batting first.
San Pedro brought in a new pitcher.
Rafael watched the warm-up throws carefully.
Different arm angle.
More velocity.
Less movement.
He filed the information away.
Davao’s first hitter grounded out.
The second batter followed with a fly ball to center.
Two outs.
Rafael stepped into the box.
The crowd immediately reacted.
San Pedro had seen enough of him already.
The new pitcher came set.
The first pitch was a fastball outside.
Rafael let it go.
"Ball."
The second pitch came inside.
Rafael fouled it away.
"Strike."
The third pitch was another fastball, this time over the plate.
Rafael swung.
CRACK!
The ball screamed toward the right-field corner.
The right fielder sprinted toward the line, but the ball landed just inside the corner and bounced hard against the wall.
Rafael reached second with a double.
The crowd erupted.
Joshua shouted from the dugout.
"Not another home run?"
Rafael smiled from second.
"They gave me the gap."
Joshua shook his head.
"You’re ridiculous."
The next batter stepped in, but San Pedro intentionally avoided giving him anything dangerous. The hitter eventually grounded out, leaving Rafael stranded at second.
Davao had failed to score.
The game remained 3–3.
San Pedro came to bat in the bottom of the eighth.
Their leadoff hitter walked, but Davao’s defense turned a double play on the next batter.
The following hitter singled.
Then the pitcher forced a weak grounder back toward the mound.
Three outs.
Still tied.
The ninth inning arrived with both teams exhausted.
Davao Central batted first.
The leadoff hitter reached on a single, and the next batter moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt.
One out.
Rafael watched from the dugout.
San Pedro intentionally walked him.
Joshua stepped into the box with runners on first and second.
This time, San Pedro couldn’t simply avoid Rafael and expect the inning to disappear.
Joshua drove a sharp single through the left side.
The runner from second scored.
Davao Central took the lead.
Davao Central 4 — San Pedro National 3.
The dugout erupted.
Rafael grabbed Joshua’s shoulder as he returned.
"Good swing."
Joshua grinned.
"They walked you."
Rafael nodded.
"And you made them pay."
Davao added another run later in the inning on a sacrifice fly.
The score became 5–3.
San Pedro came to bat in the bottom of the ninth needing two runs to extend the game.
Their first hitter reached base.
The next batter grounded into a force play.
One out.
The following hitter struck out.
Two outs.
Marco Villareal came to the plate again.
Rafael moved toward right-center.
Marco took the first pitch.
Strike.
The second pitch came outside.
Ball.
The third came toward the middle.
Marco swung.
The ball traveled toward right field.
Rafael took three quick steps backward, settled underneath it, and caught it cleanly.
Three outs.
Game over.
Davao Central Academy 5 — San Pedro National 3.
The Davao dugout erupted.
Joshua reached Rafael first.
"Five to three!"
Rafael laughed.
"Good game."
Joshua pointed at him.
"One home run, a double, and three walks."
Rafael looked toward the scoreboard.
"We won."
Joshua stared at him.
"That’s all you have to say?"
Rafael smiled.
"That’s the important part."
Daniel approached the group while the players were still celebrating.
"They tried everything."
Rafael nodded.
"They did."
"They shifted the outfield, changed pitchers, avoided your favorite areas, and pitched around you whenever they could."
Rafael looked toward San Pedro’s dugout.
"They were prepared."
Daniel smiled.
"And?"
Rafael watched the opposing players gather near their bench.
"They still couldn’t stop us."
Daniel nodded.
"Exactly."
After the teams finished shaking hands, Rafael reached the San Pedro players.
Luis Mercado extended his hand first.
"That was a problem."
Rafael laughed softly.
"Good game."
Luis shook his head.
"We shifted the outfield, changed the pitching plan, and walked you whenever we could."
Rafael smiled.
"And you still scored three."
"Yeah," Luis said. "That’s the annoying part."
Adrian approached next. He looked at Rafael for a moment before extending his hand.
"Next time, I’ll figure it out."
Rafael shook his hand.
"Good."
Adrian smiled.
"I mean it."
"I know."
Adrian walked away.
Rafael watched him go.
San Pedro had prepared for him. They had studied his swing, changed their defensive alignment, altered their pitching strategy, and forced him to take pitches instead of giving him the ones he wanted.
It worked for stretches of the game.
But it didn’t work all the time.
Rafael finished with a home run, a double, and three walks. He had also made several important plays in right field, including the final catch that ended San Pedro’s last chance.
More importantly, Davao Central had won a different kind of game.
The first game had shown everyone what happened when Rafael’s bat exploded.
This one showed them something else.
He didn’t need to dominate every at-bat.
He could wait.
He could adjust.
He could let the opponent build a plan around him and then use that plan against them.
Two games.
Two wins.
And San Pedro had become the first team to make Davao Central work for every run.
Rafael looked toward his teammates as they celebrated near the dugout.
The tournament was starting to understand what kind of player they were dealing with.
Not just a teenager with an unbelievable swing.
Not just a hitter who had gotten hot at the right time.
Rafael Santos understood the game at a level that most people around him couldn’t yet see.
And every opponent that studied him would only give him more information to use.
The tournament had begun to adjust to Rafael.
Now Rafael was learning how to adjust back.
End of Chapter 12