Chapter 14: The Last Group Game
The afternoon practice was shorter than usual.
Daniel didn’t want the players exhausting themselves before their final group-stage game, so most of the session focused on situational plays and defensive communication. Rafael stood in right field while Miguel moved beside him.
"Coach said our next opponent is Mabini National," Miguel said.
Rafael nodded. "I know."
"You’ve already watched them?"
"Last night."
Miguel laughed. "Of course you did."
Rafael glanced toward the infield. Mabini National had already won one game and lost one, and while their record wasn’t as impressive as Davao Central’s, their games had been close. More importantly, their players rarely made the same mistake twice.
"They’re disciplined," Rafael said.
Miguel looked at him. "That’s what you noticed?"
"They don’t give away extra bases."
Miguel nodded slowly. "That could be annoying."
"Probably."
From the dugout, Daniel called out.
"Enough talking. Again."
The players reset, and the drill started with a runner on first and nobody out. The batter hit a ground ball toward second, and Ethan immediately moved toward the ball while Carlo covered the bag.
The throw came across the diamond, and Carlo stepped onto the base for the force.
"Out!"
The next batter attempted a bunt. Joshua charged from first and threw toward third, where Andre moved across the bag and made the tag.
"Good!" Daniel shouted.
He pointed toward the players. "That’s what I want tomorrow. Don’t wait for the play to happen. Anticipate it."
Rafael smiled slightly. Daniel was saying the same thing Rafael had been thinking.
Mabini wasn’t going to beat them by having one extraordinary player. They were going to try to beat them by making fewer mistakes.
That made the game interesting.
The next morning, Rafael woke before his alarm.
He stayed in bed for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling before reaching for his phone. There were already messages in the team group chat.
Joshua had sent:
Joshua: Final group game.
Another message appeared almost immediately.
Joshua: 3–0 sounds better than 2–1.
Rafael smiled.
Rafael: Then win today.
Joshua replied almost immediately.
Joshua: You first.
Rafael put the phone down. That was exactly how it should be.
Nobody on the team was waiting for him to carry them anymore. They wanted to finish the group stage together.
At breakfast, Lia was already dressed when Rafael walked into the kitchen.
"Game day."
Rafael sat down. "Yeah."
She placed a plate in front of him. "Eat."
Rafael looked at her.
"You’re acting like Coach."
"I’m your sister. I can do better."
Elena laughed from across the table while Manuel continued reading something on his phone. After a moment, he looked up.
"The game is this afternoon?"
"Yes."
"Same field?"
"Yes."
Manuel nodded.
Lia leaned forward. "Are you going to hit another home run?"
Rafael smiled. "I’ll try."
Lia frowned. "That’s not very confident."
"I said I’ll try."
"You always sound calm."
Rafael picked up his spoon. "Getting nervous doesn’t make the pitcher throw better."
Manuel looked up and smiled.
"That’s true."
For a moment, nobody said anything. Then Elena glanced at Rafael.
"Whatever happens, you’ve already made it this far."
Rafael nodded, but inside, he wasn’t thinking about how far he’d come. He was thinking about the game ahead.
Three games.
Two wins.
One remaining.
Finish it.
That was all.
By the time Davao Central arrived at the field, Mabini National was already warming up.
Rafael stopped near the entrance and studied the field. The first thing he noticed was their outfield, then their catcher, and finally their pitcher.
He watched the pitcher throw several warm-up pitches. Fastball, changeup, breaking ball—the velocity wasn’t overwhelming, but the delivery was consistent.
Rafael looked toward Daniel.
"That’s their starter?"
Daniel nodded. "Enzo Bautista. Number fourteen."
Rafael watched another pitch before speaking.
"He hides the changeup well."
Daniel looked at him. "You noticed that already?"
"Same arm speed."
Daniel gave a small smile. "That’s why I wanted you to watch them."
Rafael nodded and looked toward the rest of Mabini’s defense. Their third baseman was playing closer to the line, the shortstop was slightly deeper than normal, and their center fielder kept communicating with both corner outfielders.
They were organized.
Very organized.
Joshua walked beside Rafael.
"They look serious."
"They are."
Joshua looked at him. "You worried?"
Rafael shook his head.
"No."
Joshua grinned. "Good."
The game began with Davao Central taking the field first, while Mabini National batted in the top of the first. Their leadoff hitter stepped into the box, and the first pitch was a strike, the second missed for a ball, and the third became a routine grounder to short.
One out.
The next batter hit a single through the middle. The third hitter followed with a hard grounder toward first, which Joshua fielded before stepping on the bag for the force.
Two outs.
Rafael watched the runner return to first as Davao’s starting pitcher finished the inning with a called third strike.
Three outs.
Davao Central came to the plate.
The first batter reached on an error, and the next hitter advanced him with a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Joshua stepped into the box and worked the count before drawing a walk.
Runners on first and second.
Then Rafael’s name was announced.
He walked toward the plate and adjusted his batting gloves. Mabini’s defense immediately changed, with the center fielder moving deeper, the left fielder shading toward left-center, and the right fielder moving closer to the line.
Rafael noticed all three.
Enzo came set.
The first pitch was a changeup. Rafael watched it cross the plate.
"Strike."
He stepped out briefly. The pitcher hadn’t shown the same arm-speed difference he’d displayed during warm-ups.
Interesting.
The second pitch was a fastball outside, which Rafael took for a ball. The third was a breaking ball that dropped low, giving him a two-ball count.
Rafael looked toward the defense.
Still the same.
They weren’t moving. They were waiting for him to pull.
Enzo came set again and delivered.
The fourth pitch came inside.
Rafael turned on it.
CRACK!
The ball shot toward right-center. The center fielder immediately ran toward the gap while the right fielder moved toward the line, but neither could get close enough.
The ball kept carrying and cleared the fence.
Three-run home run.
The crowd erupted.
Joshua threw both arms into the air from the dugout.
"THERE!"
Rafael dropped the bat and started around the bases. He didn’t celebrate because he didn’t need to; he had seen the opening and taken it.
By the time he touched home, Davao Central had a 3–0 lead.
Paolo met him near the dugout.
"That was quick."
Rafael smiled. "They gave me the pitch."
Joshua pointed toward the field.
"They gave you the whole right side."
Rafael looked back at the defense.
"Exactly."
Joshua stared at him.
"You’re enjoying this too much."
Rafael laughed.
Mabini didn’t panic.
Their next three hitters stepped into the box and attacked Davao’s pitcher aggressively. The first batter singled, while the second laid down a bunt and reached first when the defense couldn’t complete the play cleanly.
Runners on first and second with nobody out.
Daniel stepped toward the field.
"Stay composed!"
The next hitter hit a ground ball toward Carlo. Carlo fielded it and threw to second for the force.
One out.
The next batter lifted a fly ball toward Rafael. He moved underneath it and caught it, allowing the runner at second to tag and advance to third.
Two outs.
The next batter stepped in, and Rafael shifted closer toward the line. The hitter looked toward him, and Rafael noticed the way he had adjusted his stance.
He was expecting a fastball away.
The pitch came, and the batter reached for it, sending a weak fly ball toward right. Rafael moved forward and made the catch.
Three outs.
The threat was over.
The second inning passed quickly.
Davao Central added another run when Miguel drove a double into the gap and scored on a single by Carlo. Mabini answered with a run of their own in the bottom half.
4–1.
The third inning was quieter.
Mabini’s pitcher began changing speeds more often, and Rafael came to the plate with one out. This time, Enzo didn’t give him anything inside.
Fastball away.
Changeup away.
Breaking ball low.
Rafael took all three, and the count eventually went full. Enzo finally threw a fastball toward the outside corner, and Rafael lined it into right-center for a clean single.
He stood on first without celebrating.
Joshua stepped up next, and the defense shifted toward Rafael. Joshua noticed the opening and drove the ball through the space on the left side.
Rafael advanced to third.
Paolo followed with a sacrifice fly, bringing Rafael home and making the score 5–1.
The Davao dugout erupted.
Rafael returned to the bench, and Joshua sat beside him.
"They’re moving everything toward you."
"I noticed."
"Good." Joshua grinned. "Means they keep leaving me space."
Rafael nodded.
"Exactly."
Mabini refused to disappear.
In the fourth inning, they scored two runs after a walk, a double, and a sacrifice fly. The score was now 5–3.
Daniel called the infield together.
"Stay focused."
Rafael stood in right field and looked toward the opposing dugout. They weren’t panicking.
They were adjusting.
Good.
That was what he wanted.
The game became tighter after that. Mabini’s pitcher kept Rafael off balance by changing speeds and avoiding predictable patterns, but Rafael didn’t force the issue.
In the fifth inning, he drew a walk. In the sixth, he reached on a clean single through the right side after Mabini’s second baseman shaded too far toward the middle.
Every time they changed something, Rafael noticed. Every time they gave him an opening, he used it.
But he didn’t need to turn every at-bat into a home run.
The game belonged to the whole team.
The seventh inning began with Davao Central still leading 5–3.
Mabini had runners on first and second with one out when their cleanup hitter stepped into the box. The batter drove the first pitch toward deep right-center, and Rafael immediately broke while Miguel also moved toward the gap.
The ball kept carrying.
Rafael accelerated toward the warning track, adjusted his route, and made the catch over his shoulder.
The runners had already advanced, so Rafael quickly threw toward the cutoff. Carlo caught it and relayed the ball toward third, forcing the runner to stop.
Two outs.
The next batter grounded into a force play.
Three outs.
The Davao dugout erupted again.
Daniel pointed toward Rafael as he returned.
"Excellent read."
Rafael nodded.
Joshua slapped his glove.
"That’s the kind of play nobody talks about."
Rafael looked at him.
"That’s because it doesn’t show up as a home run."
Joshua laughed.
"Exactly."
Davao added one more run in the eighth, while Mabini scored another in the bottom half.
6–4.
The ninth inning arrived, and Davao Central was three outs away from finishing the group stage undefeated.
The first batter reached on an error, and the next batter advanced him to second. With two outs, Rafael stood in right field as Mabini’s next hitter stepped into the box.
The hitter needed a big hit.
The pitcher delivered.
A line drive came toward right field, and Rafael took a step forward before realizing the ball was going to drop in front of him.
He charged, scooped it cleanly, and fired toward home as the runner from second rounded third.
Paolo caught the throw, but the runner slid safely.
6–5.
The crowd erupted.
Mabini was one hit away from tying the game.
Daniel walked toward the mound while the next batter stepped in. Rafael moved several steps toward right-center and watched the hitter settle into the box.
The first pitch came inside.
The batter swung and sent a high fly ball toward right-center. Rafael broke immediately as the center fielder moved toward the same area.
"Mine!"
Rafael tracked the ball through the sunlight, adjusted once, and closed his glove around it.
Out.
The runner at first stayed.
Two outs.
One more.
Mabini’s final hitter stepped into the box. The crowd was loud again, but Rafael remained focused on the hitter’s stance.
The batter was leaning slightly forward, with his hands higher than before. Rafael shifted a few steps toward the line.
The pitcher came set.
First pitch.
Strike.
Second pitch.
Ball.
Third pitch.
Foul.
Two strikes.
The next pitch came low.
The batter swung and made weak contact, sending the ball floating toward right field.
Rafael took three quick steps forward and settled underneath it.
Catch.
Three outs.
Game over.
Davao Central Academy 6 — Mabini National High School 5.
The Davao dugout exploded.
Joshua sprinted toward Rafael.
"Three and zero!"
Rafael laughed as Joshua grabbed him by the shoulders.
"We finished it."
Miguel arrived next.
"That final catch!"
Paolo removed his mask.
"That was way too close."
Rafael looked toward the scoreboard.
"Still counts."
After the game, the teams lined up to shake hands.
Enzo Bautista stopped in front of Rafael.
"That first home run."
Rafael looked at him.
"What about it?"
"I thought the pitch was good."
"It was."
Enzo frowned.
"Then why did you hit it?"
Rafael smiled.
"Because it was good."
Enzo laughed.
"Fair enough."
He extended his hand.
"Good game."
Rafael shook it.
"You too."
As the Mabini players walked away, Daniel gathered the team.
"Three games."
Everyone became quiet.
"Three wins."
Joshua raised his fist.
Daniel smiled.
"That’s what you earned."
The players celebrated again.
Rafael looked around at his teammates.
Joshua, Miguel, Paolo, Carlo, Ethan, Andre, and Nico had all contributed. Nobody had needed him to do everything, and that mattered more to him than the three home runs, the hits, or the numbers on the scoreboard.
The group stage was finished.
Now came the part where one bad game could end everything.
That evening, Rafael arrived home to find Lia waiting near the door.
"Three and zero!"
Rafael laughed.
"You already know?"
"Everyone knows."
Elena smiled from the living room.
"Your team is through."
Manuel stood behind her.
"Congratulations."
Rafael put his bag down.
"Thanks."
Lia looked at him.
"How many home runs?"
"One."
She looked disappointed.
"Only one?"
Rafael laughed.
"We won."
"Fine."
She smiled.
"That’s enough."
Rafael looked around the room. For a moment, the tournament felt far away again.
He had spent years playing in stadiums filled with thousands of people, but somehow, walking into this small house and hearing his family celebrate a school baseball game felt different.
Maybe because this time, he wasn’t celebrating alone.
Later that night, Rafael checked his phone.
A message from Mia appeared.
Mia: Congratulations.
Rafael: Thanks.
Mia: Semifinals now?
Rafael looked at the message.
Rafael: Yeah.
Mia: Nervous?
Rafael smiled.
Rafael: No.
A few seconds later, another message arrived.
Mia: I knew you’d say that.
Rafael laughed quietly.
He put his phone down and looked at the tournament schedule.
The group stage was over.
Three games.
Three wins.
Now the four remaining teams would face each other in the semifinals. There would be no more second chances, no more group-stage games, and one loss would end the tournament.
Rafael leaned back in his chair.
That was different.
Not because he was afraid of losing, but because now the games mattered more.
The next opponent wouldn’t be fighting for a place in the standings. They would be fighting for a place in the final.
Rafael smiled.
Finally.
The real tournament was about to begin.
End of Chapter 14