Seido's Lovely Manager (Miyuki Kazuya x Female OC)

XXVI. Seido vs. Ouya

The game proceeded with Ouya's cleanup batter doing a bunt. Kanemaru wasn't able to throw well and Maezono missed the ball that as thrown to him. Ouya was now able to head to the third base. Everyone was able to see how the failed change-up affected Sawamura.

"Calm down, Sawamura!" The third years shouted.

"Two outs!" Sakai encouraged although the players coudn't hear it.

"Deep breaths!" Another third year said.

The players in the field also cheered on Sawamura, hoping that the pitcher would calm down a little.

"Two out, Sawamura!" Kuramochi called.

"Focus on the batters!" Haruichi added.

Sawamura got ready to pitch despite the runner getting a big lead from the base. Emi watched as the third base runner got ready to run towards home base and how Kanemaru tensed screaming at Sawamura.

"Sawamura! Third base!" Kanemaru shouted confusing the pitcher and breaking his concentration and allowing Ouya to score a run.

"Eh?" Sawamura looked at Kanemaru forgetting to pitch.

"BALK! BALK!" The umpire shouted loudly.

"What just happened?" Emi asked confused at the play.

"He stopped his throw to first," Rei explained from beside Haruno, "it was a clear balk. He got tricked by the runners so easily."

"Wait, so that was their plan?" Haruno asked referring to Ouya.

"I think so," Rei said fixing her glasses, "the runner on the first takes a big lead to make him throw and the runner on third heads for home as he throws. THe pitcher gets confused and commits a balk," Rei explained.

"Ouya is well known by their mind games," Emi said as she read the notes she took from her notebook.

"I guess Emi-chan is right, well it's not surprising they would do that," Rei told the managers, isn't that right, Coach Araki? Rei thought to herself.

===

"Was that their plan?" Sakai asked turning to Chris after the umpire called a balk.

"Seems to be," Chris responded.

"Oh, they called for a time out," Sakai said as both Sawamura and Miyuki stood on the mound.

"You've got two outs, Sawamura. You'd better stop them!" Kadoka said worried for the pitcher.

"I'm sure Miyuki's keeping it under control, but this batter's the key," Shin said as he also focused his attention back to the game.

Ouya was able to score another run after Sawamura pitched after the other batter was able to hit cleanly the ball. Emi noticed how Sawamura was getting way too tense, especially after the attempt to throw a change-up.

"Damn it!" Sawamura muttered as he ran back to the dugout.

"It's the first inning, Sawamura!" Kudou cheered.

"Switch gears!" Higashio added.

Miyuki watched the situation and let out a tired sigh, No time to test the change-up anymore. They have a strong core to make bold play like that. We can't take them too lightly.

The following innings, none of the teams were able to score anymore runs. They were now on the top of the fourth inning and Shirasu was able to get a base hit reaching to the next base as Haruichi quickly did a bunt right after. The next batter was Miyuki, who stood on the batter box confidently.