智弁和歌山が夏の甲子園で5年ぶり4回目の優勝

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is August twenty-second. Japan's summer high school baseball tournament crowned its champion today, with a dramatic comeback in the final at Koshien Stadium. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

The final of the national summer high school baseball tournament was held on the twenty-second at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture.

It means the final — the last match that decides the champion.

Chiben Wakayama, from Wakayama Prefecture, beat Kendai Takasaki from Gunma four to three and took the championship.

It means winning the championship — taking first place.

Every summer, schools that win their regional qualifiers gather to decide the best high school team in Japan.

It means a preliminary round, or qualifier.

Until partway through the game, Kendai Takasaki was in the lead.

It means partway, or in the middle of something.

But Chiben Wakayama caught up in the late innings and turned the game around.

It means the final stage — here, the late innings of a game.

The go-ahead run scored on a wild pitch by the opposing pitcher.

It means going ahead — taking the lead in the score.

When the game ended, the players gathered on the mound and formed a circle of joy.

It means great joy, or delight.

Kendai Takasaki reached the final for the first time, but fell one step short of the title.

It means advancing to the final.

The hot summer of high school ballplayers across Japan came to a close today.

It means to come to a close, like a curtain falling.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

Chiben Wakayama — a school in Wakayama Prefecture.

Four to three.

Their first in five years — and their fourth title overall.

It was their very first time in the final.

That's all for today. The summer tournament at Koshien is one of Japan's most loved traditions, and this year it ended with a dramatic comeback. Thanks for listening.