今年の高校野球は、仙台育英が100年越しの悲願の初優勝を果たし、深紅の優勝旗がついに白河の関を越えました
➣Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School won the Koshien national baseball title on Aug. 22, ending a century-long drought filled with heartbreak and humiliation for the Tohoku region.
※drought=（長期の）日照り続き、干ばつ➾（長期の）不足、欠乏
Now, the crimson-colored championship flag will finally move to the other side of Shirakawa-no-seki, a monument known as a “border entry” point to the northeastern Tohoku region.
※crimson=深紅色、濃紅色
冬が長く練習時間が短い東北勢は、野球の才能ある選手であふれる関西勢に比べて、勝てないチームと言われていました。
➣The region’s long winters and heavy snow reduce the practice time for players in the area. Tohoku teams had long been treated as underdogs in the tournament, particularly against the talent-laden western teams with aggressive recruitment programs and strict training regimens.
※underdog（試合や選挙や競争で）負けそうな方、勝ち目のない人
※regiment（手順の決まった）激しい訓練
強豪チームの選手の中は、東北勢との対戦するとわかるとハイタッチをする者もいたといいます。
➣Players on some of these powerhouse teams reportedly gave each other high-fives when they learned they were matched up against a Tohoku team at the summer tournament.
※powerhouse （スポーツ）最強チーム
東北勢はこれまで9回決勝に進出するもの、あと一歩届きませんでした。今回は10回目の決勝進出でした。
➣It was the 10th time for a Tohoku team to advance to the final of the summer tournament, which was first established in 1915. In the first nine games, the Tohoku teams all lost, often by the slimmest of margins.
延長戦に突入してさよならで負けた1915年。
➣A team from Akita Prefecture played in the final of the very first tournament in 1915. The game went into extra innings, and the Tohoku team lost 1-2 in a walk-off hit in the 13th inning.
※extra-inning contest／game 《野球》延長戦
go into extra innings／run into extra innings 《野球》延長戦に入る、突入する
※walk-off hit 《野球》サヨナラヒット、決勝打➾game-ending hit/game-winning hit
引き分け後再試合になって負けた1969年。※写真は三沢のエース、太田幸司投手
➣Misawa High School from Aomori Prefecture and Matsuyama Commercial High School representing southern Ehime Prefecture engaged in an epic battle that remained tied 0-0 after 18 innings. The game ended in a draw, and Misawa lost 2-4 in the rematch.
昔と異なり球数制限もあり、今年の仙台育英は投手陣も安定しています。
➣Sendai starting pitcher Yo Saito struck out four and gave up one run（一点を失う） on three hits over seven innings. Yuki Takahashi completed the game with two scoreless innings.
攻撃では、７回に満塁本塁打で余裕あるリードを広げました。※仙台育英、岩崎生弥選手
➣Infielder Ikuya Iwasaki hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to lead Sendai Ikuei to a comfortable 8-1 lead.
満塁ホームランはa bases-loaded homer という表現も
※comfortable=快適な、落ち着いた （競技や選挙などが）楽に勝てる、余裕のある
須江航監督は仙台育英出身。単身仙台にやってきた高校時代は、練習試合の経験もない補欠だったと言います。コロナ禍の中頑張った全高校生に向けての優勝スピーチがトレンド入りしていました。
※補欠選手＝（米略式）benchwarmer／ substitute (player), reserve(player)
➣Wataru Sue, the current 39-year-old manager of Sendai Ikuei, his alma mater(母校), knows all about the countless broken hearts and dreams of Tohoku teams. Visibly emotional after the Aug. 22 victory, the first thing Sue said in a televised post-game interview was: “Congratulations, people in Miyagi Prefecture and people in Tohoku region!”
