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[INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC] ♪

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[SCHOOL BELL RINGING]

- I APPLIED FOR ASSISTANT COACH HERE, BUT UM, YOU

SORT OF WOULDN'T EVEN GIVE ME AN INTERVIEW.

- YOU'RE THE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL COACH.

- YEAH, BUT I JUST HAD A GOOD MEETING WITH COACH

VAN SCOYOC AT NORWAY HIGH.

- NORWAY?

- YES, SIR. AND SINCE THIS IS MY LAST YEAR HERE, I'M

TAKING A JOB IN ST. LOUIS, AND I-

- SO YOU WANT TO GO COACH BASEBALL AT ANOTHER HIGH

SCHOOL FOR THE TWO MONTHS THAT YOU HAVE LEFT?

- ASSISTANT COACH.

- DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S A PRETTY UNUSUAL REQUEST,

MR. STOCK?

- YEAH, BUT, IT'S NORWAY.

[SIGH]

- ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD.

[INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC] ♪

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[THUD]

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[COW MOOING]

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[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- YO, HE'S A VOLLEYBALL PLAYER.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- HEY, KENT.

- COACH!

I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A PRACTICE.

- IT IS.

- WOW.

- DID YOU BRING THAT STOP WATCH LIKE I ASKED?

- YEAH.

- WHAT'S THAT FOR?

- WELL I JUST THOUGHT I'D TAKE SOME NOTES.

[SIGHING]

- HERE YOU GO, COACH.

- THANKS, BIG O.

- WE'RE GONNA TAKE INFIELD NOW, JUST LIKE BEFORE A

GAME. I WANT YOU TO, WATCH CAREFULLY AND I WANT YOU

TO TIME IT.

- TIME THE INFIELD. CHECK.

[UPBEAT MUSIC] ♪

- ALRIGHT, LET'S GO, INFIELD!

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- NOW,

BRING IT HOME.

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- COME ON NOW, BRENT.

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- GO WIDE.

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- ONE AND IN.

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- BRING IT IN, BOYS.

- UNDER NINE MINUTES, WASN'T IT?

- 8:24.

- ALWAYS KEEP IT UNDER NINE.

ALWAYS TAKE IT FIRST IF YOU CAN.

WHAT ELSE'D YOU NOTICE?

- WELL-

- HERE YOU GO, COACH. - THANKS.

- IT WAS PERFECT.

YOU TOOK SOMETHING OFF THOSE GROUND BALLS, BUT-

- WHY?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

CAUSE THE OTHER TEAM IS WATCHING.

YOU MAKE IT LOOK NICE AND EASY AND WE'RE ALREADY IN THEIR

HEADS, YOU GOT IT? - YEAH.

- OUTFIELDERS, LET'S GO.

- THE NORWAY TIGERS HAVE SPENT THE LAST THREE DAYS

WONDERING IF THE RAINS WOULD EVER LET UP. THEY

FINALLY DID TODAY, ALLOWING THE TIGERS A ROCK

SOLID START TOWARDS A SECOND STRAIGHT STATE

TITLE. THEY POUNCED QUICKLY, DID THE TIGERS,

AS JIM VAN SCOYOC, THEIR MANAGER, WATCHES.

- KEVIN STEWART SLAPPED A DOUBLE DOWN THE LINE. HERE

COMES STEVE MYERS, HE'LL SCORE EASILY. WEST BEND

COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE THIRD INNING AS NORWAY -

- BREEZE ALLOWED TWO HITS IN THE FIRST AND COLLARED

THE BULLDOGS THE REST OF THE WAY. NORWAY HASN'T

GIVEN UP A RUN IN THE PLAYOFFS, AND THE SENIOR

HURDLER TOSSED A SHUT OUT ON JUST FORTY-THREE PITCHES.

THE TIGERS MORE TO THE 1A FINALS

WINNING IT IN FIVE. THAT FIRST VICTORY PUTS THE

TIGERS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FOR THE NINTH TIME IN

THE LAST TEN YEARS.

- YOU'LL NEED THE BIGGEST AND THE FASTEST EVEN

SOMETIMES THE BEST BUT NO ONES GOT THE FUNDAMENTALS

DOWN BETTER'N OUR BOYS.

- EVERY LITTLE LEAGUE COACH WITHIN FIFTY MILES OF HERE

IS AN EX-NORWAY PLAYER. IT'S LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN MINOR

LEAGUE FEEDER SYSTEM.

NORWAY BASEBALL TRADITION AS RICH AS I WAS OLD.

WE GROW BALL PLAYERS HERE LIKE CORN.

HELL, EIGHTY PERCENT OF THIS GAME IS DEFENSE.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THESE BOYS

TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN KNOWING HOW TO BEAT YA.

IT'S HOW THEY GET REMEMBERED.

AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA WIN STATES.

- COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM COLONEL STADIUM, THIS IS

KZIA, Z102.9, THE VOICE OF IOWA BASEBALL.

NORTH TAMA, WITH THE RALLY GOING.

LOOKING TO UPSET THE NORWAY TIGERS AND DENY THEM

THEIR NINETEENTH STATE TITLE. [CROWD CHEERING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

- LONG DRIVE TO RIGHT CENTER.

[CHEERING]

- TIME, BLUE.

- AND OUT COMES LEGENDARY COACH, JIM VAN SCOYOC, TO

TALK TO HIS SENIOR PITCHER, BRENT FITZ,

WHO DEFINITELY LOOKS TO BE TIRING.

- HOW YA FEELIN', BRENT?

- I'M GOOD.

THAT WAS A LUCKY HIT.

I'LL KEEP IT DOWN.

- WELL, THING IS,

KIMBLE'S ON DECK.

HE ALREADY OWNS YOU,

SO WE NEED TO GET THIS NEXT BATTER OUT.

DON'T YOU [...] ME NOW.

- I'LL GET HIM, COACH.

- ALRIGHT, THIS KID'S A DEAD PULL HITTER.

OFF SPEED LOW AND AWAY IS GONNA PULL A GROUNDER TO SHORT.

MAKE IT TIGHT IN YOUR BELT AND LET'S GET HIM.

- COME ON BUDDY, GET HIM NOW.

- LET'S GET IT GOING!

- ONE MORE, ONE MORE!

- HERE WE GO, BRENT. YOU'RE ALRIGHT KID, COME ON NOW!

[CROWD CHATTER]

- THERE'S A DRIVE, DEEP LEFT FIELD.

FITZ, GOING BACK, IT IS A

FOUL BALL.

OH MY, SIX INCHES TO THE RIGHT, AND TAMA'S

GOT THE LEAD. FITZ IS CLEARLY ON THE ROPES.

ALL OF HIS PITCHES ARE UP IN THE WHEEL HOUSE.

- COME ON FITZ, LET'S GO BABY, LET'S GO NOW.

- COME ON, FITZ!

- LET'S GET THIS GUY, JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT!

YOU KNOW HOW!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

- GROUND BALL TO SHORT.

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- OUT!

[CHEERING] ♪

- AND THE NORWAY TIGERS ARE THE STATES 1A BASEBALL

CHAMPIONS FOR THE NINETEENTH TIME!

[CHEERING] ♪

- THAT LAST PITCH, HOW'D YOU KNOW?

- I SCOUTED A HITTER.

- WHEN?

- IN MY SPARE TIME.

- DON'T YOU HAVE ANY SPARE TIME?

- I MADE SOME.

THEY DESERVE IT.

[CHEERING]

- SO THE NORWAY TIGERS WIN THEIR NINETEENTH STATE

CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THEIR TWELFTH UNDER JIM VAN SCOYOC.

WITH A TOWN WITH A POPULATION OF JUST 586,

THE HIGH SCHOOL, WITH ONLY A HUNDRED AND ONE

STUDENTS, THESE PLAYERS GREW UP WATCHING THEIR

OLDER BROTHERS, RELATIVES AND GRANDS WIN STATE TITLES.

FINALLY IT'S THEIR TURN IN THE SUN.

[CHEERING] ♪

♪

[APPLAUDING AND CHEERING]

- WE ARE HONORED AND PROUD TO PRESENT THIS TROPHY TO

NORWAY HIGH SCHOOL AND UH, TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF

NORWAY THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

[APPLAUSE]

- MOSTLY THICK!

[LAUGHING]

LET'S DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND MAKE IT AN EVEN TWENTY!

[CHEERING]

[CHEERING]

- MATTHEW, WE DID IT AGAIN, DIDN'T WE?

- DON'T YOU GET USED TO THIS?

- AW, WE DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED

AROUND HERE. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR BASEBALL, SO

PROUD OF THE BOYS.

COURSE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH COACH GRUMPY

ALL THROUGH THE SEASON.

HE SPEAKS VERY HIGHLY OF YOU BY THE WAY.

- HE DOES?

[CHEERING]

- BYE. - THERE YA GO.

- IS IT TRUE HOW TROSKY ONCE HIT A BALL THAT WENT

ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE RAILROAD TRACK?

- THAT'S WHAT THE OLD TIMERS SAY.

- I MEAN THAT'S WHAT, 500 FEET?

- HELL, SON, THAT'S THE LONGEST HOME RUN IN

HISTORY. THAT BALL TRAVELED TWO HUNDRED MILES.

SEE,

HE HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK RIGHT OVER

THERE, TOOK ONE BOUNCE ON THE HIGHWAY, LANDED ON A

FREIGHT TRAIN'S GOING BY, AND ENDED UP IN CHICAGO.

[LAUGHING]

- YEAH.

- OH, WE HAD A GOOD RUN, DIDN'T WE?

- THANK YOU FOR LETTIN' ME BE A PART OF IT.

I LEARNED A LOT.

- YOU'RE A GOOD COACH. BOYS LIKE YA.

THERE'S A BUNCH OF EM COMING BACK NEXT SEASON.

- WHAT ABOUT THIS RUMOR. THAT NORWAY'S GONNA CLOSE

AND MERGE WITH MADISON COMMUNITY?

- THAT'LL NEVER GO THROUGH.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO DESTROY SOMETHING

MEANS SO MUCH TO THESE KIDS.

- YEAH.

- KENT,

NORWAY IS BASEBALL.

ANYWAY,

IF I DON'T GET HOME SOON, CHIC'S GONNA FEED MY

DINNER TO THE DOGGY HERE.

HOW BOUT YOU? EAT YET? THERE'S ALWAYS PLENTY.

- NAH, I'M GOOD. I JUST LIKE TO STAY OUT HERE FOR

A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

- COULDN'T A DONE IT WITHOUT YA KID.

- SURE YA COULD.

- WELL, I WOULDN'T A WANTED TO.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT SEASON!

WE'LL GO FOR AN EVEN TWENTY.

- COACH! I'M NOT COMIN' BACK NEXT SEASON.

- OH, THAT'S RIGHT.

- YEAH, GOT A JOB IN ST. LOUIS. WHOLE DEAL.

SEE WHAT BIG CITY LIFE'S ABOUT.

- THAT'S TOO BAD.

GAME COULD USE MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

- IF YOU CLOSE NORWAY HIGH AND MERGE IT INTO MADISON,

WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BASEBALL PLAYERS?

WHAT HAPPENS TO COACH?

- IT'S A FREE MARKET SYSTEM. THEY HAVE TO

COMPETE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

CREAM RISES TO THE TOP.

- DIDN'T YOU PULL YOUR SON OUT OF NORWAY BECAUSE

COACH VAN SCOYOC WOULDN'T LET HIM PLAY BASEBALL AND

FOOTBALL AT THE SAME TIME?

- WELL, NOW THAT'S GOT NOTHIN' TO DO WITH THIS.

SCHOOL BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY IS

EDUCATIONAL. SPORTS PROGRAMS COME SECONDARY.

- HOW DO WE WIN HERE, HARVEY?

- LOWER TAXES. PLUS KIDS LIKE YOUR BOY KEVIN GET A

BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION.

- NORWAY'S GOT A SIXTEEN TO ONE STUDENT TEACHER

RATIO, AND MADISON'S GOT TWENTY-TWO TO ONE.

HOW'S THAT BETTER? WE SENT TWO SONS

AND A DAUGHTER TO THIS SCHOOL AND THEY'RE ALL ON

THE DEANS LIST IN COLLEGE.

- YOU TAKE AWAY OUR SCHOOL, THOSE KIDS WON'T

BE SHOPPIN' IN OUR STORE.

WE'LL LOSE OUR BUSINESS!

- AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES! WHAT ABOUT OUR LOCAL

ECONOMY?

- WELL I CAN'T ADDRESS ANY ISSUES EXCEPT THE

EDUCATIONAL ONES.

- WHY THE HELL NOT, HARV? BETTY LOU'S STORE HAS BEEN

A PART OF THIS TOWN FOR FIVE GENERATIONS. THERE'S

MORE AT STAKE HERE THAN CLOSIN' THE SCHOOL.

- NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT CLOSING THE SCHOOL.

- OH, NOT YET YOU HAVEN'T. YOU'LL GET AROUND TO IT,

WON'T YA?

- WELL I MEAN, EVEN IF IT DOES HAPPEN, YOU'RE ALL

GONNA MAKE OUT LIKE BANDITS. THE AGREEMENT

OFFERS ALL KINDS OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. LET

MS. HUDSON HERE EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU.

- YES, UM, THE STATE GIVES THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO

EACH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT PER STUDENT. NOW NORWAY

WOULD RETAIN A PERCENTAGE OF THAT ALLOWANCE WITHOUT

INCURRING ANY OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXPENSE.

- WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE TRANSLATE THAT INTO ENGLISH?

- SHE SAID THE STATE IS WILLING TO BRIBE YOU TO

THE TUNE OF THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS A KID FOR CLOSING

DOWN THE SCHOOL.

[GROANING]

- AND YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN PLACE A VALUE ON

SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

- WELL, CHANGES IN STATE BUDGET REGULATIONS ARE

FAVORING THE LARGER DISTRICT. IF YOU DON'T

LIKE THE LAW I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE IT

UP WITH A LEGISLATURE.

- WELL YOU KNOW THERE'S NO TIME FOR THAT.

- PERHAPS YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE.

- I GUESS I MISSED THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT DES

MOINES HAS MADE THE MAJORS.

- LET'S JUST BE FAIR HERE. THE STATE HAS ITS JOB TO

DO, BUT, YOU STILL ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD.

MATTHEW.

- HARVEY'S RIGHT. ANYONE WHO OPPOSES THIS MERGER

CAN FILE A PETITION FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY, BUT

IT'LL TAKE TWENTY PERCENT OF THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS

SIGNATURES.

- HOW 'BOUT YOUR SIGNATURE MATTHEW?

YOU GONNA SIGN IT SO YOUR BOYS CAN KEEP PLAYIN' FOR NORWAY?

[CLEARS THROAT]

- I DIDN'T THINK SO.

I'M DONE TALKIN' TO THESE PEOPLE.

- I'M NOT, I WANNA HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT PETITION.

- I'LL WALK HOME.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- GOODNIGHT!

- YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE ALL THAT NUMBERS [...] DO YOU?

- YES, I DO. THE STATE'S HELPED OVER A HUNDRED

SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH SIMILAR AGREEMENTS.

- AND HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE NINETEEN STATE

BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER THEIR BELT?

- IS THAT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT?

- THIS TEAM BEATS THE BIGGEST SCHOOLS IN THE

STATE YEAR AFTER YEAR.

- AT BASEBALL. BUT WHAT ABOUT AT LIFE? THEY'LL

HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REAL WORLD IF THEY

HAVE MORE RESOURCES AT SCHOOL.

- YOU DON'T GET IT, DO YOU? KIDS IN SMALL TOWNS

LIKE NORWAY, THEY HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL. THEY

WANNA PLAY BASEBALL, JOIN THE BAND, RUN FOR STUDENT

COUNCIL, THEY JUST DO IT.

NOBODY GETS LEFT OUT,

EVERYONE PARTICIPATES. YOU CANNOT TELL ME IT'S LIKE

THAT IN ALL THE BIG SCHOOLS.

- DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DO MY JOB.

- WELL I'M NOT, I-

MAYBE YOU COULD GET A DIFFERENT JOB.

[CAR DOOR SLAMS SHUT]

[CAR DOOR SLAMS SHUT]

- HOW LONG I GOTTA STAY FOR?

- YOU'RE ENROLLED IN THE HIGH SCHOOL TOMORROW.

- HUH? - MOM! DAD!

GUESS YOU'VE GOT NO CELL SERVICE OR I

WOULDA CALLED BUT- - GREAT.

- LISTEN, I'LL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.

- LET ME LOOK AT IT!

- WAIT, WAIT FOR IT!

FIRST TEAM ON STATE! [LAUGHING]

- HOW WE GONNA GIVE YOU THAT ON A FARM NOW.

- COME ON, MAN. - THIS GUY.

- OH, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA KILL 'EM AGAIN NEXT SEASON.

- YEAH. - THANKS

- BUT PLAYIN' FOR WHO? MADISON?

- DOES IT MATTER?

- I'M NOT PLAYIN' FOR MADISON.

- I CAN'T IMAGINE PLAYIN' FOR ANYONE'

- GOT LIKE SIX HUNDRED KIDS-

- GUYS, GUYS GUYS GUYS

- THIS KID.

- UM, CAMELS.

- ID?

- UH, I LEFT IT IN MY JAG.

[LAUGHING]

- YOU BETTER GO GET IT.

- YOU KIDDIN'?

- OH, DENIED.

- DID YOU SEE THAT JUNKIE RAMBO JACKET?

- WHAT'RE YOU LOOKIN' AT? [SCOFFS]

- CAMELS?

- ID?

- LEFT IT IN MY TRACTOR.

[LAUGHING]

- PERSPECTIVE'S OFF ON THIS. I'LL GET YOU A

TRIGGER ON THERE, YOU GET A GOOD FINISH, IT'LL BE

ALRIGHT. [DOOR SLAMS]

- LOOK AT THIS DUDE.

- KEVIN!

LOOK WHO IT IS!

- YOU'RE LATE.

I'M TALKIN' TO YOU, SON.

- I KNOW. I'M NEW SO,

CUT ME SOME SLACK?

- I JUST DID.

I KNOW YOUR DAD.

- SUNGLASSES BACK, PLEASE.

- WE DON'T DO LATE AROUND HERE.

- WHATEVER.

- YOU'RE LATE AGAIN I'LL FLUNK YA.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A SEAT OVER THERE?

- RIGHT IN THE BACK OF CLASS.

GET OUTTA HERE.

- AW, DON'T CRY.

- WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT KID?

- DENIS, DENIS, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

DENIS STATE, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

- HOLD ON- - DEAR FATHER.

NO, NO, NO IT'S ON MY PHONE, I'M IN BUMFORD, IOWA.

- THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD- - DENIS, I NEED YOU TO

TAKE CARE OF THIS. - AND THIS BE

YOUR WONDERFUL BOUNTY. - HOLD ON.

HOLD ON HOLD ON. HOLD ON, HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON

HOLD ON, I'LL-I'LL GET IT, IT HAS TO HAPPEN BY TOMORROW.

AMEN. - DENIS, DENIS, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

- AMEN.

- AMEN.

- WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PHONE ON THE WALL?

- UH, IT'S A ROTARY.

DAD, THIS IS TECHNOLOGY. IT MAKES MY LIFE A LOT EASIER.

- WHAT DID YOU THINK OF UM, COACH VAN SCOYOC, MITCH?

- VAN-NAZI'S MORE LIKE IT. I DON'T SEE WHAT THE BIG

[...] ABOUT HIM IS.

HE'S A FARMER.

- THAT FARMER, WAS MY COACH TOO.

NOT TO MENTION THE NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR.

YOU MIGHT TRY LISTENIN' TO HIM.

YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY LEARN SOMETHIN'.

SOMETHIN' IMPORTANT.

- SUPPOSED TO LEARN THAT STUFF FROM YOU.

- SORRY, MOM.

[LAUGHING]

- YOU DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING FUNNY IN THAT, DID YOU, MITCH?

- NO.

- MAYBE YOU WANNA THROW A LITTLE MA'AM IN AFTER THAT.

- NO, MA'AM.

- DON'T YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO DO?

- SHE MADE YOU COME OUT HERE, DIDN'T SHE?

- OH SHUT UP.

- I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING WRONG, DAD.

YOU WERE A BIT ROWDY IN YOUR DAY, TOO.

- THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

- WHEN I GOT YOU OUTTA JAIL.

- ONE TIME.

- YOU WERE NAKED.

- IT WAS CALLED STREAKING, DAD.

- IN AN OLD AGE HOME?

- IT WAS PRETTY INNOCENT COMPARED TO WHAT MITCH IS

GETTING IN TO.

I JUST THOUGHT THAT BRINGIN' HIM

HERE WOULD BE GOOD FOR BOTH OF US.

- THEN WHY ARE YA LEAVIN'?

- CAUSE DAD, I'M NOT A SMALL TOWN GUY, YOU KNOW THAT.

MORE BIG CITY.

- HOW'S THAT WORKIN' OUT FOR YOU?

- WELL,

I CAN'T RUN MY BUSINESS FROM HERE, SO I

DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

SORRY I HAVE TO DUMP HIM ON YOU LIKE THIS.

- WELL, NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT NOW.

- JARED!

- WE'LL LOOK AFTER HIM, ALRIGHT?

- JIM, YOU AND I BASICALLY WANT THE SAME THING.

- HOW DO YOU FIGURE THAT, HARVEY?

- WELL, YOU WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE TOWN, SO DO I.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO RIDE THE HORSE IN THE

DIRECTION IN WHICH IT'S GOING.

- HARVEY, I GET THE UNCOMFORTABLE FEELING

YOU'RE TRYIN' TO PUT SOMETHIN' WHERE I DON'T

WANT IT PUT.

- OK, HERE'S THE DEAL. I LET YOU FINISH OUT THAT

CONTRACT OF YOURS WHICH TAKES YOU TO THE END OF

JUNE. THEN I TRANSITION YOU TO MADISON, TO THE

INDUSTRIAL ARTS POSITION WHICH MIND YOU, CURRENTLY

DOESN'T EXIST.

- THEN MY TEAM.

- OH, YOUR BOYS GET TO PLAY ONE LAST SEASON OF

NORWAY BASEBALL.

BUT WITHOUT YOU, WITHOUT THE SAVE-OUR-SCHOOL PETITION

YOUR WIFE IS CIRCULATING AND WITHOUT YOUR BIG MOUTH.

I THINK THAT JUST MIGHT GO A LONG

WAY TOWARD MAKING THE TRANSITION TO MADISON

EASIER FOR THIS TOWN TO UNDERSTAND.

- IF ANYBODY ASKS ME SOMETHIN', I TELL EM

EXACTLY WHAT I THINK.

YOU KNOW YOU TELL THE TRUTH, HARVEY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO

REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID.

ARE WE DONE HERE?

- LOOKS LIKE.

- YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TRYIN' TO KILL.

- THANKS VERY MUCH. - THANK YOU.

- HEY, KID.

- COACH! I DIDN'T REALIZE YOUR TRUCK COULD MAKE IT

THIS FAR.

- HEY, DON'T BAD MOUTH MY TRUCK.

- WHAT'S UP?

- AW, NOTHIN', I

JUST THOUGHT I'D STOP BY AND

SEE IF YOU STILL HAD THAT LITTLE NOTEBOOK OF YOURS.

- YOU DROVE 250 MILES JUST TO ASK ME THAT?

- WELL, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN

WHATS BEEN GOIN' ON UP IN NORWAY.

SEE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA LET ME COACH ANYMORE.

KILLIN' BASEBALL.

THERE'S A BIG TOWN MEETIN' NEXT MONTH.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE THERE.

[REMINISCING] - ONLY THE BIGGEST AND THE

FASTEST NORWAY BASEBALL TRADITIONS.

WE GROW BALL PLAYERS HERE. EIGHTY PERCENT OF THIS GAME

IS DEFENSE.

- ANYWAY, THINK ABOUT IT, WILL YA?

YA KNOW, THOSE OLD TIMERS SAY THAT BASEBALL'S THE ONLY GAME

ON EARTH WHERE THE OPTION EXISTS TO GET HOME, KID.

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC] ♪

♪

[CLEARS THROAT]

- I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT NORWAY

LOSING ITS IDENTITY. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES

TO OUR SPORTS TEAMS. SO ITS BEEN DECIDED THAT FOR

ONE YEAR, OUR SCORES WILL BE REPORTED MADISON-NORWAY.

[CROWD TOGETHER] -WHAT?

- NORWAY STUDENTS NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO

PARTICIPATE IN MADISON. NOT WITH FARM CHORES

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL AND TWENTY MILE DRIVE TO AND FROM.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

[APPLAUDING]

- MADISON BASEBALL COACH IS NEVER GONNA START A

NORWAY PLAYER, NOT EVEN A GOOD ONE! YOU REALIZE HOW

MUCH [...] YOU'LL CATCH FOR THAT?

[LAUGHTER]

- AND HOW ABOUT THE AVERAGE PLAYER?

HE'S GOT NO CHANCE.

SO YOU TELL ME AGAIN ABOUT ALL THIS

OPPORTUNITY YOU KEEP PITCHIN' US.

[MUMBLED AGREEMENT]

- SO, WHAT EXACTLY YOU TELLIN' US, HARVEY?

YOU SAYIN' THIS IS A DONE DEAL?

- YES I AM.

[CROWD GROANS]

- WHAT? WAIT!

WE HAVE ALMOST FOUR HUNDRED

SIGNATURES. THAT'S NINETY PERCENT OF THE ELECTORATE!

NINETY PERCENT, RIGHT HERE!

[APPLAUDING] [MUMBLED AGREEMENT]

- RIGHT HERE.

FOUR HUNDRED. FOUR HUNDRED, HARVEY.

- WELL THANK YOU FOR THAT, CHIC. IT REPRESENTS A LOT

OF HARD WORK ON YOUR PART.

- WE'VE GOT THE SIGNATURES. THE MERGER IS POSTPONED!

[CHEERING] [APPLAUDING]

YES, YES, YES!

- SAM.

- YOU HAD THIRTY DAYS TO FILE THIS WITH THE STATE BOARD.

WE'RE THE SCHOOL BOARD, CHIC. I'M SORRY.

- WHAT THE HELL?

- YOU DIDN'T TELL US THAT LAST TIME. DID YOU JUST

FORGET? OR DID YOU CONVENIENTLY LEAVE THAT

PART OUT?

- DO SOMETHING, POP.

- I'M AFRAID SAM IS TECHNICALLY RIGHT. THE

PETITION IS INVALID.

[CROWD GROANING]

- LET'S GO, BOYS.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

♪

- JUST SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS. YOU ALL ARE

GONNA GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION WITH THE MADISON

SCHOOL BOARD AND VOTE AGAINST THE WISHES OF THIS

ENTIRE COMMUNITY BASED ON A MINOR LEGAL TECHNICALITY?

- IT IS THE DUTY OF THIS BOARD TO REPRESENT THE

BEST INTEREST OF THIS COMMUNITY AS WE UNDERSTAND IT.

- HUMPH.

- DOES THAT SEEM FAIR TO YOU MS. HUDSON?

- IT'S THE STATE'S POSITION THAT SMALL

SCHOOLS ARE A FINANCIAL BURDEN. AND IT AIMS TO

CONSOLIDATE AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE.

- WOW.

♪

♪

- EXCUSE ME.

MR. STOCK? CAN I TALK TO YOU?

- YOU DID YOUR TALKING IN THERE.

- LISTEN, I'M NOT THE ENEMY HERE.

- THEN WHO ARE YOU?

- I'M SOMEONE DOING MY JOB.

LISTEN, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A LOT OF CHANGE ALL AT ONCE

BUT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

THIS IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS TOWN AND WHAT'S

BEST FOR THIS SCHOOL.

- THIS SCHOOL IS ALL THE TOWN HAS.

[TRAIN WHISTLE IN BACKGROUND] HAVE YOU EVEN BEEN TO THE OTHER

SMALL TOWNS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR SCHOOLS RIPPED OUT

FROM UNDER 'EM? - NO.

- THEN HOW CAN YOU SAY IT'LL BE BETTER FOR US

WHEN YOU HAVEN'T GONE BACK AND CHECKED FOR YOURSELF.

GUESS THAT'S NOT PART OF YOUR JOB, IS IT?

- NO, IT ISN'T. I'M AFRAID YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE

TALKING ABOUT.

- I CHALLENGE YOU. GO BACK TO THOSE TOWNS AND HAVE A

LOOK FOR YOURSELF.

- IT'S NOT HER FAULT, YOU KNOW.

- I KNOW.

- SOME OF IT IS.

- HE'S GOT A BIG MOUTH. I WARNED HIM.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WE DON'T BRING HIM BACK, THE REST IS EASY.

- SO, YOU-YOU'RE GONNA CANCEL THE SEASON?

- WHAT, AND LET HIM GO OUT AS MARTYRS? WITHOUT

VAN SCOYOC COACHING THEM, THEY GO OUT AS LOSERS.

SOONER THIS NORWAY BASEBALL TRADITION ENDS,

THE SOONER WE GET THE MERGER BEHIND US. WHAT DO

YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS UH, THIS STOCK GUY?

THE ASSISTANT.

- WELL HE'S FROM BELLE PLAINE. HE, HE UH FILLED

IN HALF OF LAST YEAR WHEN VAN SCOYOC'S GUY MOVED ON.

- HE COACHED BALL AT BELLE PLAINE?

- VOLLEYBALL.

- EXCELLENT. HE'S GOT A BIG MOUTH, BUT HE'LL DO.

- WHERE'S GRANDPA?

- HE'S DOWN THERE.

SMOKIN' A CIGAR.

STILL THINKS I DON'T KNOW.

- UM,

DON'T TELL YOUR GRANDMA.

SHE THINKS I GAVE 'EM UP.

- I HATE IT HERE.

I WANNA GO BACK HOME.

- YOU KNOW, I HAD THIS SERGEANT AT FORT BRAG

AND HE SAID SOMETHIN' TO ME ONCE STUCK WITH ME.

EVEN THE EASY THINGS ARE TOUGH IF YOU DO 'EM HALF-HEARTEDLY.

HE ACTUALLY SAID HALF [...], I'M JUST CLEANIN' IT UP A LITTLE.

I HATE THIS, I HATE THAT.

I'M SO BORED. YOU KNOW, STOP WHINING, YOU'RE JUST

MAKING THINGS TOUGH YOU KNOW. PUT YOUR HEART IN

SOMETHING.

[SIGHS]

HEY!

I KNOW IT'S BEEN TOUGH ON

YOU GUYS SINCE YOUR MOM PASSED.

THAT'S ALRIGHT.

IT'S OK. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FEEL THIS WAY.

YOUR GRANDMA THINKS THAT YOU NEED A HOBBY.

SOMETHIN' YOU CAN PUT YOUR HEART IN, YOU KNOW.

NOT THIS HERE, EH! [LAUGHING]

- WHAT KIND OF HOBBY?

- WELL SON, SHE SAID THAT YOU'D FIGURE IT OUT. YOU

KNOW, SHE'S A SMART WOMAN! WHY I SNATCHED HER UP.

SHE- SHE TOLD YOU TO COME OUT HERE, DIDN'T SHE?

- NO.

- SHUT UP, COME ON!

[LAUGHING]

- OK SHE DID.

- OH! [LAUGHING]

[INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC] ♪

[KNOCKING]

- COMIN'! HANG ON A SECOND.

HI!

- HI.

I'M GONNA GO CHECK ON SOME OF THOSE OTHER

SMALL TOWNS.

- YOU ARE?

- NO ONE WILL CARE THAT NORWAY HAS BEEN CLOSED.

THOSE KIDS WILL BE BETTER OFF.

- YOU DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND ALL THAT MUCH

ABOUT SMALL TOWN AMERICA, DO YOU?

- I'M FROM DES MOINES.

- HA, YEAH.

YOU HAD SUPPER YET?

I TOLD YOU THEY WERE GOOD.

I COULD EAT LIKE, THREE OF THESE THINGS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO WHERE'D YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

- UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LAW.

WHERE'D YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

- LUTHER COLLEGE. IT'S IN DECO RAH.

DIVISION THREE SCHOOL.

- SO YOU DIDN'T GROW UP HERE?

- NO.

- WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL

BASEBALL TEAM? I DON'T GET IT.

- WELL, HERE'S THE THING YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND

ABOUT NORWAY. IT'S LIKE BEING WITH THE NEW YORK

YANKEES. AND THEY HAVE A TRADITION HERE THAT'S

ABOUT MORE THAN JUST WINNING. IT'S ABOUT

PLAYING THE GAME RIGHT.

GUESS I JUST WANT SOME OF THAT TO RUB OFF ON ME.

DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?

- THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK YOU KNOW.

- WHAT'S NOT GONNA WORK?

- YOU TRYIN' TO SOFTEN ME UP.

- WELL WE'LL SEE.

HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO BOY, HERE WE GO, BILLY!

- THAT A BOY, BILLY. - STRIKE HIM OUT.

- STRIKE HIM OUT, STRIKE HIM OUT.

- HEY BATTER BATTER, SWING!

- OH!

- HEY BATTA BATTA BATTA, HEY BATTA BATTA SWING!

[CROWD GOES "OH!"]

- YEAH! - ONCE MORE, THAT'S WEAK.

- NORWAY GAME?

- YEAH, LITTLE GAME CALLED FAST RUBBER.

- YEAH, WHO'S NEXT?

- YOU CAN GO. - YEAH.

- YOU WANNA PLAY? - DON'T MIND?

- NAH, SURE SURE. - GO RIGHT IN?

- LET'S GO, I GOT A BALL. I'M PITCHIN.

GOT THIS BOY.

LITTLE RUST.

- GET HIM, PATRICK.

- ALRIGHT.

- OH! [CROWD LAUGHING]

- GIVE ME THE BALL, GIVE ME THE BALL.

- THAT TOO FAST? - YOU GOOD? YOU GET TWO MORE.

- STRIKE!

[CROWD GOES "OH!"]

- ONE MORE, LET'S GO.

- YA HELD ON TO IT.

- YEAH, WHIFF SOME MORE. - YOU SWING LIKE A GIRL.

[CROWD GOES"OH!"]

- PITCH!

- YEAH, NOT AS EASY AS YOU THOUGHT.

- THERE YA GO.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT DIRTY.

- COME ON, PATRICK! [CROWD CHEERING]

- COME ON, THROW IT RIGHT HERE.

- COME ON, PATRICK!

[CROWD GOES "OH!"]

- THAT'S CHICKEN [...]

- BALL SLIPPED! WHAT? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

- YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!

DON'T EVEN BOTHER COMIN' OUT FOR THE TEAM!

- OH YEAH? - YEAH.

- WHY NOT? - THAT BIG CITY [...]

DOESN'T CUT IT AROUND HERE. - OH NO?

- YOU'D GET CUT FIRST DAY!

GET OFF OF ME!

YEAH, GO BACK TO CHICAGO.

- HEY MAN, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO GET IN YOUR JAG

AND LEAVE.

- WANNA COME OUT AND HAVE A CIGARETTE-

- HEY, COME ON, LET'S GO, LET'S PLAY.

WHO'S UP?

KEVIN'S UP.

- SIR, IT'D BE THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.

- YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. - YEAH.

- WE'LL LET YA KNOW. - OK, THANKS.

- VOLLEYBALL, HUH?

- GIRLS VOLLEYBALL, ACTUALLY.

- PERFECT.

- SEE YA.

HI! - HI.

HI. - HI.

- YOU'RE UM, UM,

- CINDY.

- CINDY, HI.

- HI.

- SO, I UH, HEARD YOU AND MY BROTHER HAD SOME RUN-INS.

- WHO'S YOUR BROTHER?

- PATRICK.

- PATRICK'S YOUR BROTHER?

- FOUR MORE YEARS, AND YOU'LL HAVE ONE OF THESE

OF YOUR OWN, ALRIGHT? - YEAH.

- HE'S ON THE BASEBALL TEAM, RIGHT?

- MHMM.

IF YOU'RE A NORWAY BASEBALL PLAYER YOU'RE A

HOMETOWN HERO.

- SEE YA!

- OH, UM, I'M MITCH.

- YEAH, I KNOW.

- HMM. - HEY GUYS! HOW'S IT GOIN?

WE GOIN TO DQ?

- I DON'T KNOW, YOU BRINGIN' HIM?

- WHATEVER HAPPENS, THE GUYS SHOULD STAY IN SCHOOL.

[INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC] ♪

♪

- IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT THAT THEY'RE LETTING YOU GO.

- HEY COACH, I'M MITCH.

I'M IN YOUR INDUSTRIAL ARTS CLASS AT SCHOOL.

- YEAH, I REMEMBER.

- I WAS UH, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF MAYBE, IF WE

COULD TALK IN PRIVATE?

- SURE. THIS IS MY WIFE, SHERYL.

- HI.

I'M MITCH AKERS.

- THESE ARE MY KIDS, CHAD.

- HEY, - HOW DO YOU DO?

- I'M MITCH, HOW ARE YA?

JEAN MARIE. - HI.

- HI. - NICE TO MEET YOU.

- COME ON INSIDE.

- WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

- UM, I WANT TO UH,

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR, FOR MY UM-

MY GRANDMA SAYS I NEED A HOBBY.

- I HAD THIS KID ONCE, UH, ASKED HIM TO LAY DOWN A

BUNT. RUNNER ON SECOND, NOBODY OUT. WE DOWN ONE TO

CEDAR RAPIDS, BIG 4A SCHOOL, TOP OF THE SEVENTH.

GET A RUNNER TO THIRD, CLEAN UP HITTER'S

ON DECK, CHANCES ARE WE TIE THE GAME.

- DUDE SHOULD TOTALLY BUNT.

- AH, HE DIDN'T. HE SWUNG AWAY.

- AND YOU LOST.

- NOPE.

DUDE HIT A TWO-RUN HOMER AND WE WON.

AND I BENCHED HIM THE NEXT GAME.

- WELL HE PISSED AND MOANED FOR A WHILE BUT HE

GOT THE MESSAGE.

DAMN GOOD PLAYER, YOUR FATHER.

GOOD ATTITUDE TOO, EVENTUALLY.

- UH, I WANT TO GO OUT FOR YOUR BASEBALL TEAM.

I'M A PRETTY GOOD CATCHER.

- I'M NOT COACHIN' AT NORWAY ANYMORE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO TALK TO WHOEVER THE NEW COACH IS.

- WELL, NICE MEETING YOU, MA'AM. I'LL SEE YA.

THANKS, COACH. - YEAH.

- IT'S OK TO MISS IT.

- IT'D BE A WHOLE LOT EASIER IF THAT FIELD WAS

MILES AND MILES AWAY.

- WELL, MR. MAKEPEACE, THAT JUST ABOUT WRAPS UP

MY WORK HERE IN NORWAY.

- WELL YOU DID A HECK OF A JOB FOR US MS. HUDSON,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. - THANK YOU.

- AND DON'T WORRY, WE'RE TAKING STEPS TO DEAL WITH

THE NAYSAYERS.

- SIR, THAT'S REALLY NONE OF MY BUSINESS.

- WE'RE GONNA HIRE A COACH WHO'S GONNA TAKE THE TEAM

DOWN WITH HIM. FALL FLAT ON HIS [...].

- MR. MAKEPEACE, THERE'S A KEN STOCK HERE TO SEE YOU

FOR AN APPOINTMENT REGARDING THE BASEBALL

HEAD COACH POSITION.

- WELL I'LL BE GOING.

- NO NO NO NO. HANG AROUND. THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.

SEND HIM IN.

- AM I INTERRUPTING SOMETHING?

- NOT AT ALL, KEN.

- IT'S ACTUALLY KENT. LIKE UH, CLARK.

- WELL, KENT. CONGRATULATIONS, WE'RE

GIVING YOU THE COACHING JOB!

- WOW! GREAT!

- I BETTER GET GOING, THANK YOU.

- WOW.

- WE'VE DECIDED OUR BOYS FROM NORWAY DESERVE ONE

FINAL SEASON. YOU KNOW, TO GO OUT IN STYLE. YOU'RE

JUST THE MAN TO LEAD THEM.

- I HOPE SO.

- SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN.

- YEAH. [CLEARS THROAT]

- IT'S PRETTY OLD.

- AH, IT'S TWICE YOUR AGE, SON.

- COACH BERNIE HUTCHISON GAVE IT TO ME WHEN HE

MOVED ON. READ THE NAME SCRATCHED ON THE END THERE.

- TROSKI.

THIS IS THE BAT THAT HIT THE BALL THAT

HOPPED THE TRAIN ALL THE WAY TO CHICAGO.

[LAUGHING]

- AL GAVE IT TO BERNIE AND BERNIE GAVE IT TO ME AND

NOW I'M GIVIN' IT TO YOU.

- COACH, I-I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT.

- NAH, YOU GOT TO! PART OF THE TRADITION HANDED DOWN

BY THE GOD'S OF BASEBALL. YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO PISS

THEM OFF, WOULD YA?

- NO, SIR. NO I WOULDN'T.

WOW.

- YOU TAKE THOSE KIDS ALL THE WAY, COACH.

- YEAH.

- THERE HE IS. THAT'S HIM.

- HE PLAYED, ALRIGHT. HE MADE THE LAST OUT IN THE

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

GREAT.

- NEVER WON THE BIG ONE.

AH, WE'RE SCREWED.

- WHAT'D YA GOT THAT THING SET ON?

- FIRE BLUE.

- WHERE'D YOU LEARN TO HIT LIKE THAT?

- MY DAD.

- WHAT SCHOOL DID YA SAY YOU GO TO?

- NORWAY.

- EXCELLENT.

- I'M KENT STOCK.

- HI. MITCH AKERS.

[UPBEAT MUSIC] ♪

♪

- HI.

HEY, CHIP.

- HEY COACH.

I WAS UH, I WAS GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT THAT.

[LAUGHING]

LOOK, WE'RE MISSING A-A BUNCH OF GUYS.

I-I WAS GONNA TELL YOU ABOUT THAT TOO. UM.

- WELL, WE'LL PLAY WITH WHAT WE HAVE. WE'RE FEW,

BUT WE'RE NOT BAD.

- RIGHT.

- HOW THE HELL WOULD HE KNOW?

[LAUGHING]

- SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHIN'?

GO ON, SPEAK UP.

- SOME OF THE GUYS THINK YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE

DOIN', COACH.

- YOU INCLUDED, PATRICK?

- COACH VAN SCOYOC WOULDA GONE PRO IF THE ARMY

HADN'T DRAFTED HIM.

- OK. I GET IT.

KEVIN, YOU'RE OUR NUMBER ONE PITCHER RIGHT?

- MHMM.

- I GET THREE PITCHES. I HIT ONE OUT, YOU SHUT UP

ABOUT ME, AND START FOCUSING ON YOURSELVES.

[LAUGHING]

[CLEARS THROAT]

- NO WAY YOU'LL HIT ONE OUT.

- DO WE HAVE A DEAL?

- YEAH. - SURE.

- DEFINITELY. [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- OWEN, GIVE ME A BAT.

- COME ON KEVIN, SHOW HIM WHAT'S UP.

- ALRIGHT, HE'S MEAT KEVIN. BRING IT.

- HA, HA HA!

- HERE WE GO, KEVIN!

- GIVE ME THE HEAT, LET'S GO, I'M NOT KIDDING.

ALRIGHT KEVIN, NO PUSS, BRING IT. I MEAN IT.

- HEY BATTA BATTA BATTA!

- STRIKE! - SHANK!

- YOU ONLY GET TWO MORE! [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- COME ON, KEVIN!

- COME ON.

- HEY BATTA BATTA BATTA! HEY BATTA BATTA BATTA!

- HEY BATTA BATTA BATTA, SWING!

- NO!

- GET THERE, COME ON! - FOUR!

- KEEP IT DOWN, GET THOSE THROWS DOWN, COME ON FELLAS!

- COME ON, SPITZ, KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOIN' WITH IT!

SAMMY, BACK HIM UP, COME ON.

THAT'S YOU, THAT'S YOU, GET THERE!

LET'S GO, BRING IT IN!

[UPBEAT COUNTRY MUSIC] ♪

♪

- WHAT IS GOING ON?

I MEAN, WHAT'S WITH YOU GUYS?

- THE STANDS USED TO BE FILLED WHEN WE PRACTICED.

- YEAH, NOW ALL WE GOT IS THAT STALKER GUY.

- IT'S OK, I'M MARRIED!

- HE'S A REPORTER FOR THE DES MOINES PAPER.

- AND HE'S BALD, THAT'S WHY HE WEARS HIS LITTLE HAT.

- ALRIGHT.

- HE THINKS WE'RE GONNA FALL FLAT ON OUR [...].

BUTTS, SORRY COACH.

- EVEN COACH VAN SCOYOC THINKS THAT.

- NO HE DOESN'T!

- YEAH, SHUT UP, SAM!

- COACH VAN SCOYOC TOOK ONE FOR THE TEAM SO WE

COULD ALL PLAY ONE FINAL SEASON.

- ALRIGHT, LISTEN UP.

WE DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS OUT HERE.

ALRIGHT, NOT THE PAPERS, NOT THE PEOPLE IN

TOWN. I DON'T WANNA HEAR ONE MORE WORD ABOUT

MADISON AND THE MERGER. WE'RE GONNA PLAY NORWAY

BASEBALL. VAN SCOYOC BASEBALL. BERNIE

HUTCHINSON BASEBALL. WE DO THAT, NO MATTER WHAT

HAPPENS, WE GO OUT WINNERS. YOU GOT IT?

YOU GOT IT?

- YEAH.

- YES COACH. [TEAM AGREEING]

- GOOD. GET OUT THERE, LET'S RUN IT AGAIN. COME ON!

[KNOCKING]

- HEY THERE! - HI.

- COME ON IN! - JUST FOR A MINUTE.

[UPLIFTING MUSIC] ♪

- FROM THE BRIDGE, UH, FREE.

- WELL THAT'S SWEET.

- I CAME OUT HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU WERE RIGHT.

THOSE SMALLER SCHOOLS THAT WERE ABSORBED BY LARGER

DISTRICTS, THEIR ECONOMIES WERE ABSORBED

TOO. THEY'RE TURNING IN TO GHOST TOWNS.

- [SIGH] WELL DID YOU TALK TO THE NORWAY SCHOOL BOARD

ABOUT IT? - YES.

- AND?

- MR. MAKEPEACE IS NOT INTERESTED IN STATISTICS

THAT DON'T SUPPORT HIS POSITION.

AND HE PRETTY MUCH CONTROLS THE BOARD.

- YEAH.

- I'M SORRY.

- NO, I'M-

LISTEN, YOU WANNA COME IN AND SIT DOWN?

- I SHOULD GO. BUT UM, GOOD LUCK TOMORROW.

- WITH WHAT?

- THE GAME. CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY.

- YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT? HOW'D YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?

- BASEBALL'S NOT JUST FOR BOYS.

- HEY WAIT! CAN I GET YOUR NUMBER?

- I WROTE IT ON THE BAG.

- HA! [RAIN FALLING]

[THUNDER RUMBLING] [TRAIN WHISTLE]

[PHONE RINGING]

- HELLO.

- COACH HINKLEMAN. IT'S KENT STOCK HERE.

- OH, HI KENT.

- IT'S REALLY POURING.

- WE GOT CLEAR SKIES HERE. OUR FIELD'S READY TO GO.

- WELL IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A HOME GAME, BUT-

- YOU DON'T WANNA CALL YOUR FIRST TWO GAMES RIGHT

OUT OF THE SHOOT, DO YA KID?

- NO.

- I DIDN'T THINK SO. WHY DON'T YOU LOAD UP AND COME

ON OVER.

[UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC] ♪

♪ AH

♪ MY BOY'S GONNA PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUE, ♪

♪ MY BOY'S GONNA TURN SOME HEADS. ♪

♪ MY BOY'S GONNA PLAY IN THE BIG LEAGUE ♪

♪ MY BOY'S GONNA KNOCK EM DEAD. ♪

♪ AH,

♪

♪ NEVER CAN TELL WHAT MIGHT COME DOWN, ♪

♪ NEVER CAN TELL WHEN YOU MIGHT CHECK OUT. ♪

♪ JUST DON'T KNOW, NO...

- STRIKE THREE! - YEAH!

♪

- AH! - COME ON, GET THERE!

COME ON!

GIMME YOUR HEAD IN THE PLAY!

- AH! [SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC] ♪

♪

- SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP.

THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST I HAVE EVER SEEN THIS TEAM PLAY.

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT OF BASEBALL;

DON'T ALIBI ON THE BAD HOPS.

ANYONE CAN MAKE THE EASY PLAY.

HOW DO WE GET FOUR UNEARNED RUNS IN ONE INNING?

I SAID GIVE ME SOME HEADS-UP BASE RUNNING.

YOU'RE GIVING ME HEAD UP YOUR [...] BASE RUNNING.

WE GOT PICKED OFF THREE TIMES!

YOU GUYS ARE GONNA BLOW YOUR FINAL SEASON.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

DO YOU KNOW WHO'S SITTING UP IN THE STANDS WRITING

ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW?

WHAT DO YOU WANT HIM TO SAY?

USE YOUR HEADS!

SHOW UP, AND PLAY BALL, OR DON'T SHOW UP AT ALL!

- ALRIGHT, GUYS.

JUST DON'T RUSH YOUR BALANCE POINT HERE, JUST

STAY LONG, IT'S GONNA WORK IT.

THAT'S IT.

- HEY COACH!

YOU SEEN THIS?

THEY'RE RAGGIN' ON YOUR BOYS.

♪

- WHEN I WAS A KID, JIM VAN SCOYOC WAS MY HERO.

MAN I WANTED TO PLAY BALL FOR HIM. I WANTED TO LEARN FROM HIM.

I NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS THAT I

WOULD REPLACE HIM. AND NOW THAT I HAVE,

I CAN'T MOTIVATE THE TEAM THE WAY HE DID.

HE'S-HE'LL-HE'S A LEGEND. YOU KNOW, I MEAN HE-

TWELVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. COACH OF

THE YEAR. NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR.

- MMM.

- I WAS HIS ASSISTANT COACH FOR HALF SEASON.

AND I CAN NEVER FILL HIS SHOES.

- SO QUIT.

- NO, IT'S NOT ABOUT QUITTING, IT'S ABOUT SAYING'-

- KIDDING, CHILL.

LISTEN TO ME.

YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN YOU TO LET THOSE KIDS DOWN.

YOU DON'T.

JUST CONCENTRATE ON FILLING YOUR OWN SHOES.

YOU WILL NEVER BECOME A THREE HUNDRED HITTER

UNLESS YOU TAKE THE BAT OFF YOUR SHOULDER.

- WOW.

CASEY STENGEL.

- CHIEF BENDER, LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS

ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

[UPLIFTING MUSIC] ♪

- HA, I KNEW THAT.

[CHEERING]

- COME ON, SAMMY! THROW STRIKES.

[BAT CONNECTING WITH BALL]

[CHEERING]

- THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT! YEAH!

- YEAH!

[CHEERING]

- TIME, BLUE!

- WHAT WAS THAT GARBAGE?

- LIKE WE'RE GONNA WIN ANYWAY.

WHO CARES! WE WON THE FIRST GAME.

- HE'S A LITTLE OFF TODAY COACH. - NO, HE'S NOT.

YOU DO THAT ONE MORE TIME, YOU'RE OUT OF HERE.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

YOU FIGHT FOR IT. I DON'T CARE WHAT THE SCORE IS.

LET'S GO.

- ALRIGHT, LOOK ALIVE, NORWAY! TWO DOWN!

- ALRIGHT, LET'S GO, TWO DOWN, NORWAY!

- HERE WE GO, SAMMY!

- PICK IT UP!

LET'S GET THIS GUY!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

- AH! [GROANING]

- TIME, BLUE!

- I GOT IT, COACH! COME ON, BIG O!

- YOU ALRIGHT? THIS HAND?

- RIGHT THERE, OW!

- ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. LET'S GET SOME ICE ON IT.

- OW.

[APPLAUDING]

- YOU'RE DONE. SIT DOWN.

- AH!

- COLD, KEEP THE SWELLIN' DOWN. WE'RE GONNA GET AN X-RAY-

- NICE PITCH IDIOT! - YOU'LL BE ALRIGHT.

- MITCH, GET ON THE GEAR.

- K, TWO DOWN. GET THIS GUY.

- BAD PITCH. - AH! THE WORST.

- DRISCOLL, GET THIRD BASE.

- ALRIGHT, I GOTTA GET THIS OFF YA. HOW'S IT LOOK?

- NOT GOOD, COACH. SWELLING UP BAD.

[SPITTING]

- ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO NORWAY. HERE WE GO!

TWO DOWN, TWO DOWN!

- THREE STRIKES, I'LL BUY YOU A PACK OF CIGARETTES.

- I DON'T SMOKE.

- SIX-PACK.

- DONE. - THATTA BOY.

[CHEERING]

- LET'S GO, KEVIN!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

♪

- STRIKE!

STRIKE!

THREE!

- YES!

- HEY, SLUGGER, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, I HEARD HE

HUNTS RABBITS WITH THOSE THINGS.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

♪

[HEAVY BREATHING]

♪

- WOAH, WOAH WOAH! - CHIP!

BUS IS MOVIN'! - WHAT'RE YOU DOIN' GUYS?

- SIT DOWN.

- HOLD HIM, HOLD HIM DOWN! HOLD EM DOWN!

- SAMMY! YOU DON'T WANNA BE ON THIS TEAM, THEN

QUIT. BUT DON'T YOU EVER QUIT IN THE GAME, YOU GOT IT?

- FACE IT PATRICK, IT DOESN'T MATTER!

[GROANING]

- HEY HEY HEY! BE PART OF THE TEAM, OR GET OFF OF IT!

- AH! SAMMY, SHUT UP!

[GROANING] - HOLD HIM.

[CAR TIRES SCREECHING]

- AH.

- POP! - MY CHEST IS BURNIN'!

- ALRIGHT, I NEED MY TWO FASTEST RUNNERS. GO! GO!

- VINCE, GO GO GO GO GO! - COME ON!

- RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN!

- [OVER LOUDSPEAKER] DR. PARTRIDGE, RADIOLOGY.

- THIS DON'T LOOK GOOD.

- [OVER LOUDSPEAKER] DR. PHYLLIS, CALL YOUR OFFICE.

- SO UH, WHAT'S THE GOOD WORD THERE, DARLIN'?

- NO MORE DRIVING THE BUS. NO MORE BEER. NO MORE CIGARS.

AND, I'M SORRY BOYS, NO MORE BASEBALL.

- JIM.

COME HERE, DO ME A FAVOR.

- YOU JUST NAME IT BUDDY.

- REACH OVER THERE AND PULL THAT PLUG FOR ME, WOULD YA?

- FOR REAL?

- OH. - YEAH.

[COW MOOING]

[COW MOOING] [HORSE NEIGHING]

[SHEEP BAAING]

- BAA!

[SHEEP BAAING]

[COW MOOING]

- WHAT DO YOU WANT?

- UH,

I CAME TO SEE CINDY.

SHE AROUND?

- I'M STILL ON THE FENCE ABOUT YOU, AKERS.

[HEAVY BREATHING]

- HI!

- HI.

I UH, CAME TO SEE YOU.

- I CAN SEE THAT.

- I'M GOING TO VISIT MY GRANDMA,

COME ALONG IF YOU WANT!

- ALRIGHT. - JUST HOP ON.

- HOP ON? - YEAH.

- ALRIGHT, HOLD ON.

- HE-AH!

OH!

- OH, ARE YOU OK?

- MEANT TO DO THAT.

- REALLY?

ARE YOU OK?

OH!

- I'LL WALK.

- COME ON, DUKE!

- COME ON, BOY.

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC] ♪

- HEY

COME HERE.

♪

♪

[HEAVY SIGH]

- MY MOM DIED A YEAR AGO.

- I'M SORRY.

- SHE'S BURIED IN CHICAGO.

AND EVER SINCE THEN, ME AND MY DAD HAVE HAD TROUBLE.

IT'S MOSTLY ME I GUESS.

♪

- NORWAY HIGH SCHOOL PLAYS ITS FINAL BASEBALL SEASON,

AND TODAY BEGINS PLAY IN ITS FINAL STATE TOURNAMENT.

- THEN THE TIGERS BROKE IT OPEN IN THE THIRD.

PATRICK IVERSON DOUBLES TO LEFT CENTER, SCORING

STEWART AND THE RED HATS LEAD TWO TO NOTHING.

- THE TIGERS SCORE THREE IN THE THIRD, TWO MORE IN

THE FIFTH, TO WIN IT SEVEN TO NOTHING. THEY'RE HEADED

BACK TO THE STATE TITLE GAME SET FOR NOON ON

SATURDAY, THE LAST GAME EVER FOR THE NORWAY TIGERS.

- HEY MOM!

NOW, I HEARD A RUMOR THERE'S A BIG GAME TOMORROW.

SON. - DAD.

- THOUGHT I'D STOP BY.

- DAD. - SON.

- YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR BAG?

YEAH. - HERE.

- I PACKED TOO.

I FIGURED UH, YOU KNOW UH, HICK TOWN

LIKE THIS COULD USE A BIG CITY GUY AROUND.

- YEAH.

- I PROBABLY STILL GOT SOME FANS DOWN AT THE OLD

FOLKS HOME.

- YEAH, AN-AND YOUR FRIENDS IN JAIL.

- OH, COME- [LAUGHING]

- YOU CALLED HIM, DIDN'T YOU!

- SHUT UP!

[LAUGHING]

- OH DAD! YOU KNOW THOSE CIGARS YOU WANTED ME TO

SAVE YA? BROUGHT EM WITH ME!

- OH! OH! - SHUT UP!

[LAUGHING]

[KNOCKING]

- COME ON IN!

- JIM! THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE.

- THE HELL TOOK YOU SO LONG?

- DAMN FLIGHT WAS LATE. YOU SURE YOU UP TO THIS?

- LAST GAME COACH. END OF AN ERA. GOT TO BE THERE

FOR THAT ONE.

- YOU AFRAID THE DOCS GONNA SEE YA?

- AIN'T THE DOC I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

- OH.

[SIGHS]

- NO, SIT DOWN.

OK. IT'S ONE AND DONE.

FOREVER.

SOUTH CLAY IS THIRTY ONE AND EIGHT.

THE EIGHT GAMES THEY LOST WERE WHEN REED ELLIS

WASN'T IN THE ROTATION.

HE'S PITCHING TODAY.

WE ALL KNOW HE'S BEING SCOUTED BY PRO TEAMS.

BUT ONE PLAYER DOESN'T WIN A BASEBALL GAME.

SAMMY.

- HE CAN IF HE THROWS NINETY-TWO MILES AN HOUR, COACH.

- WE WIN BY PLAYING NORWAY BASEBALL.

EIGHTY PERCENT OF THIS GAME IS DEFENSE.

WE DON'T LET ANYTHING GET OUT OF THE INFIELD, AND WE WAIT.

SOONER OR LATER, THEY'LL MAKE A MISTAKE.

EVERY PLAYER WHO'S EVER WORN A NORWAY UNIFORM

IS OUT THERE WITH YOU TODAY.

AND THINK ABOUT THIS.

NO OTHER IOWA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL DYNASTY

HAS EVER WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

IN THEIR FINAL SEASON.

WE'RE PLAYING FOR EVERYONE WHO KNOWS THAT NORWAY

IS A GREAT PLACE TO COME HOME TO.

AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TODAY, THIS TIME

NEXT YEAR, THE JERSEYS YOU'RE WEARING WILL BE

POLISHING CHROME IN MADISON HIGH SCHOOL. SO

ASK YOURSELF ONE QUESTION;

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED?

ALRIGHT LET'S GO, BRING IT IN.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

- GIVE US A COUNT, BIG O.

- ONE, TWO, THREE! - [IN UNISON] TIGERS!

[CHEERING]

- FIGHT!

- COME ON, NORWAY!

- NOW, YOU BE CALM.

- ME? YOU STAY CALM. DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.

- AND THE NORWAY TIGERS TAKE THE FIELD, LOOKING TO

SECURE THEIR TWENTIETH TITLE IN THIS, THEIR FINAL

SEASON, AGAINST THE HEAVILY FAVORED,

SENIOR-DOMINATED, GILLETT GROVE SOUTH CLAY SPARTANS.

- WITH SENIOR PITCHER KEVIN STEWART OUT OF THE

ROTATION, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE TIGERS

JUNIOR PITCHER, NUMBER TWENTY-NINE, SAMMY WILSON.

♪

- LET'S GO SAMMY, HUH, SHOOT STRIKES, KID,

SHOOT STRIKES!

[CHEERING] ♪

♪

♪

- OUT! - ARE RIGHT NOW RED HATS,

TWO DOWN!

♪

- OUT! - WELL, SO FAR SO GOOD!

THREE UP, THREE DOWN ON SOLID DEFENSIVE PLAY BY THE TIGERS.

- BRING IT IN, FELLAS, NICE WORK!

AND THAT WILL BRING TO THE MOUND, GILLETT GROVE SOUTH

CLAY'S SUPERSTAR PITCHER, REED ELLIS.

A STATE-WIDE MVP FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS, ELLIS WILL BE

ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA IN THE FALL,

AND ACCORDING TO SCOUTING REPORTS

IS A NUMBER ONE PRO-DRAFT CONTENDER.

♪

- KID CAN PITCH.

- WOAH!

- THAT BOY PITCHES VERY FAST, HUH DADDY?

- SURE DOES, SWEETIE.

- ALRIGHT, LET'S GO. - YEAH.

- COME ON, EDDY!

- BATTERS UP!

- ALRIGHT, EDDY, LET'S GO, START US OFF NOW!

♪

♪

- STRIKE!

- STRIKE!

- THAT'S THREE!

- THIS GUY'S NOT GONNA MAKE THE PROS, HE IS A PRO.

- DON'T WORRY, YOU'LL GET IT NEXT TRIP.

- IT'S HARD TO HIT AN ASPIRIN TABLE, BIG O.

[DEEP BREATH]

[CHEERING] ♪

- ELLIS THROWIN' BULLETS- - STRIKE!

- CHASING THE NORWAY BATTER OUT OF THE BOX WITH A NINETY-FIVE

MILE-AN-HOUR FAST BALL.

- STRIKE!

- COME ON, SAMMY! SWING THE BAT!

♪ [CHEERING]

- STRIKE THREE!

- AND THERE'S STRIKE THREE. I KNOW IT'S SCARY

IN THERE, BUT, [SCOFFS], YOU'LL NEVER GET ON BASE

IF YOU JUMP OUT OF THE BOX LIKE THAT.

- UH, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT.

THAT IS PURE FEAR.

♪

- COME ON, MITCH! - COME ON, MITCH!

- ALRIGHT, LET'S GO!

- ALRIGHT MITCH, NOW.

- STRIKE!

- TWO!

- STRIKE THREE! - THAT'S THREE UP, THREE DOWN,

ON NINE STRAIGHT STRIKES FROM ELLIS. A MASTERFUL DISPLAY.

- GONNA BE A LONG DAY.

- ALRIGHT LET'S GO, NORWAY! DEFENSE, COME ON NOW!

COME ON RED HATS, DEFENSE!

♪

- PICK IT UP MAN, PICK IT UP GET THIS OUT!

- THERE IT IS! COME ON NOW, TURN IT! TURN IT!

- GET IT! BOOM!

- TOP DEFENSIVE PLAY BY NORWAY. -YEAH!

KEEPIN' THE TIGERS ALIVE.

- COME ON, KEL, LET'S HIT THIS GUY, COME ON NOW.

♪

- THAT SUCKER'S THROWIN' BULLETS HERE.

- HERE WE GO NOW. TAKIN' IT UP.

COME ON NOW. [CLAPPING]

- STRIKE!

- STRIKE THREE! YOU'RE OUT!

- ELLIS, ON HIS GAME TODAY. UNHITTABLE SO FAR.

FRUSTRATING NORWAY.

- AND NOW UP TO BAT, REED ELLIS.

ELLIS, WITH A LONG DRIVE TO DEEP LEFT FIELD!

THAT'LL CLEAR THE BASES!

- UGH! - OH MY!

ELLIS IS AN ARMY OF ONE TODAY!

- HOLD EM, HOLD EM! - CUT OFF, LET'S GO!

- HE'S THERE! - DON'T GIVE IN, SAMMY,

COME ON NOW!

- AND SOUTH CLAY OPENS IT UP WITH TWO RUNS IN THE

TOP OF THE THIRD.

UNDERDOG NORWAY JUST LOOKS STUNNED AT THE MOMENT.

- TIME BLUE! - TIME.

- COACH KENT STOCK UP AND OUT OF THE DUGOUT, AND ON

HIS WAY TO THE MOUND.

- HOW'S YOUR ARM?

- I'M FINE.

- WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OUT HERE WAITIN' FOR THEM TO

MAKE MISTAKES, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, RIGHT?

MOW THESE GUYS DOWN AND LET'S GET OFF THE MOUND

ALRIGHT?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

[CHEERING]

♪

- OUT! - THATTA WAY BOYS!

LET'S GO!

- COME ON NOW, SAM! KEEP IT DOWN.

- OUT! - YES!

- THATTA BOY! - NICE JOB!

- PRETTY SHARP. THAT'S HIS GAME, DEFENSE.

- APPARENTLY COACH STOCK'S WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO

HIS PITCHER WORKED. AND THE TIGERS STRAND ELLIS ON BASE.

- WHAT, I HAVE TO DO THIS ALL MYSELF AGAIN? LET'S

GET OUT OF THE INFIELD NEXT TIME!

- TAKE IT EASY. - AND THAT DOESN'T SIT WELL

WITH ELLIS. COMPLAINING LOUDLY AT HIS TEAMMATES.

AN OUTBURST LIKE THAT COULD GET HIM EJECTED IF HE'S NOT CAREFUL.

- HE'S GONNA HANG ONE FOR YA RIGHT NOW.

- HOW YOU KNOW, COACH?

- JUST TRUST ME.

♪

- ELLIS INTO THE STRETCH.

AND THE PITCH.

- IVERSON CONNECTS. IT'S WAY BACK.

- GO, GET OUTTA HERE! - DEEP TO RIGHT FIELD.

GOING, GOING, IT IS, GONE!

- YES! [CHEERING]

- SON OF A [...] - HOLY TOLEDO!

THAT'S A ROUND TRIPPER FOR PATRICK IVERSON.

♪

- NOW WE'RE IN IT! NOW, WE'RE IN IT!

- THAT COULD BE THE FIRST DENT IN ELLIS'S ARMOR, WITH

NORWAY FINALLY ON THE BOARD. OR, IT COULD BE TOO

LITTLE TOO LATE.

- DUDE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? GO CATCH.

- HEY COACH, HOW'D YOU KNOW HE WAS GONNA HANG ONE?

- I SCOUTED HIM.

- FOLKS, THIS COULD BE IN FOR THE NORWAY TIGERS.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH, TRAILING IT.

GILLETT GROVE SOUTH CLAY, FOUR TO THREE.

A DYNASTY OF NINETEEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE PAST

TWENTY-FOUR YEARS, COULD BE ABOUT TO END.

[DEEP BREATH]

- YO SAMMY,

WHAT'RE YOU GONNA DO?

- I'M GONNA GET ON BASE.

- TWO OUTS, NOBODY ON, AND THE NORWAY PITCHER UP AT BAT.

HE'S OH-FOR-TWO RIGHT NOW. - WE GOT TWO DOWN, IT'S ALL YOU!

- NORWAY DESPERATELY NEEDS A MAN ON BASE, BUT ELLIS

CONTINUES TO GO HARD TO THE INSIDE CORNERS, AND

NUMBER TWENTY-NINE HAS BEEN ON HIS HEELS,

BACKIN' OUT OF THE BOX ALL DAY.

♪

- BRUSHED BACK BY A NINETY-FOUR - STRIKE!

- MILE-AN-HOUR FAST BALL FOR STRIKE ONE!

- THE NORWAY BATTER, CROWDING, CHALLENGING ELLIS.

- GONNA GET HURT, STUPID.

- OH, THAT WAS CLOSE! - COME ON SAMMY! BE A HITTER!

JUST CATCHING THE INSIDE EDGE FOR STRIKE TWO.

[DEEP BREATH]

♪

- FOLKS, HE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE PLATE HERE.

CROWDING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE NOW.

ELLIS INTO THE STRETCH.

AND THE PITCH.

- OW! - TIME!

- OH! - OH!

- THAT HAS GOTTA HURT. A NINETY-THREE MILE-AN-HOUR

FAST BALL PUTS THE BATTER ON HIS KNEES.

COACH STOCK OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK ON HIS PLAYER.

ELLIS NOW CLEARLY FRUSTRATED.

- WHERE'D HE GET YA? - IN THE BACK.

- GIVE ME THE BAT.

♪

- COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHS, COME ON.

[DEEP BREATHING]

- YEAH. - YOU WANNA PLAY?

- YEAH.

- K. SAM? DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN.

[SNICKERING]

- AND HE'S ALRIGHT. THE CROWD UP AND APPLAUDING

THE EFFORT.

[APPLAUDING]

- AS THIRD BASEMAN KEVIN STEWARD COMES TO BAT,

TRYIN' TO KEEP NORWAY ALIVE.

STEWART'S A 320 HITTER. BUT, HIS BAT'S BEEN QUIET TODAY.

- COME ON, KEVIN! START A RALLY! - NICE!

[CHEERING]

- YOU STAY CALM, NOW.

- ME? [SCOFFS]

- STRIKE! - OH!

♪

- TWO!

- NORWAY IS DOWN TO THEIR LAST STRIKE.

- COME ON BOY, YOU CAN HIT THIS GUY!

JUST STAY FOCUSED!

- AND STEWART'S OUT OF THE BOX, SOME SORT OF

DISTRACTION IN THE STANDS.

- WHAT? HE MADE ME COME.

- IT'S EX-NORWAY COACH JIM VAN SCOYOC.

[APPLAUDING]

- AND STEWART'S BACK IN THE BOX.

- ELLIS CHECKS THE RUNNER AT FIRST.

♪

- HE'S INTO THE STRETCH.

AND THE NORWAY RUNNER GOES.

STEWART GETS A HOLD OF IT!

LINE DEEP TO RIGHT CENTER. - GOTTA GO, WE GOTTA GO!

COME ON NOW! COME ON, YOU GOTTA GO, YOU GOTTA GO,

YOU GOTTA GO, GET DOWN, GET DOWN, GO GO GO!

GO! YOU GOTTA BE DOWN!

- SAFE!

[CHEERING]

- UNBELIEVABLE. THE NORWAY TIGERS HAVE COME BACK.

THIS GAME IS TIED. WE'RE GOING TO EXTRA INNINGS.

- BRING IT IN. SAMMY, YOU DID A HECK OF A JOB.

TOMMY, GRAB THIRD BASE.

NOW LISTEN, WE'VE GOT OUR OPPORTUNITY, WE

TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT. LET'S NOT BLOW IT.

SOLID DEFENSE, NOTHING GETS OUT OF THE INFIELD.

KEVIN, IT'S ON YOU. LET'S GO, WIN IT!

- ALRIGHT, LET'S GO BOYS, LET'S GO!

- EH! YOU DID IT RIGHT, MAN.

- YO, GET US OUT OF THIS, I'LL GET YOU A SIX-PACK.

YOU ALREADY OWE ME A SIX-PACK.

- HE'LL GET YOU ANOTHER ONE!

[CHEERING] [MOTIVATIONAL MUSIC]

- HEY SAMMY.

[LAUGHING]

- COME ON, KEVIN!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC] ♪

♪

♪

- YEAH! - OUT!

- ONE DOWN, ONE DOWN NORWAY!

- YEAH, LET'S GO!

- ONE DOWN, TWO MORE GUYS, COME ON! TWO MORE OUTS!

NORWAY NEEDS THIS, RIGHT HERE!

- LET'S GO, BIG MAN!

- BALL BALL BALL BALL BALL!

- OUT!

[CHEERING]

- GO! TIGERS!

♪ [CHEERING]

♪

♪

[CHEERING]

- YES!

[CHEERING]

- YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!

[CHEERING] ♪

- OH! THAT'S A HECK OF A CATCH! THAT'S A BASEBALL CATCH!

- WITH A MAN ON FIRST, SENIOR, STEVE MEYERS, OFF

THE INJURED LIST, UP TO BAT FOR NORWAY. TRYIN' TO

COME THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH FOR THE TIGERS.

[CHEERING] ♪

♪

- GOTTA GO, GOTTA GO! GOTTA GO! GOTTA GO!

GOTTA GET DOWN! GOTTA GET DOWN! GOTTA GET DOWN, NOW!

NOW NOW NOW! - SAFE!

- THATTA BOY! THERE YA GO! 'ATTA BOY.

- OH MY! THAT'S IT! HERE WE GO! WINNING RUN ON

THIRD FOR NORWAY! TWO OUTS. CATCHER, MITCH

AKERS, A TRANSFER FROM CHICAGO, COMIN' OUT. HIS

DAD PLAYED BALL AT NORWAY TWENTY YEARS AGO, UNDER

LEGENDARY COACH JIM VAN SCOYOC.

FOLKS, THIS IS IT. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE WEIGHT

ON THAT YOUNG MAN'S SHOULDERS?

- COME ON, AKERS! BE A HERO!

[APPLAUDING] [CHEERING]

♪

♪

- AKERS, SQUARES TO BUNT!

THE SPARTAN INFIELD CHARGES TO COVER!

- STRIKE ONE!

- DON'T THINK STOCK WOULD CALL A SQUEEZE HERE, DO YA?

- WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME ONE BIT!

- WITH TWO OUTS?

- TWO OUTS, FIVE OUTS, WITH THIS GUY WHO KNOWS?

- I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.

- I LOVE YOU TOO, DAD.

♪

- COME ON NOW. COME ON. LET'S GO!

♪

♪

- AKERS HITS AWAY! AND THREADS THE GAP!

- YES!

[CHEERING]

- TOOK THE BUNT SIGN OFF AND HAD HIM HIT AWAY.

UNBELIEVABLE.

- FOOLED ME.

- FOOLED SOUTH CLAY.

- CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

- ROOKIE COACH KENT STOCK HAS LED THE NORWAY TIGERS

TO AN UNPRECEDENTED TWENTIETH IOWA STATE HIGH

SCHOOL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.

SOME TRADITIONS JUST REFUSE TO DIE.

[CHEERING]

[PHONE RINGING]

- HELLO? - HARVEY. IT'S SAM.

[LAUGHING] IT WAS CLASSIC.

HE COACHES JUST LIKE VAN SCOYOC.

I HATE TO HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS BUT-

[CHEERING]

- YEAH! WE DID IT!

[CHEERING]

- THEY WON!

- REALLY? YEAH WELL THAT DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

- IT SURE DOES CHANGE THE WAY YOU'LL GET REMEMBERED.

SEE YA, HARVEY.

- YES! YES! - THEY'RE CHAMPS!

[CHEERING]

[MOTIVATIONAL MUSIC] ♪

- YEAH! - WOO!

♪ [CHEERING]

♪ I AM FINALLY COMIN' HOME.

♪ AND NOW THE DARKNESS TURNS TO LIGHT. ♪

♪ THIS DESPERATION IT ENDS TONIGHT. ♪

♪ NO LONGER ALONE, I'M COMIN' HOME. ♪

♪

♪ YEAH, I'M COMIN' HOME.

♪

♪ WELL I'M COMIN' HOME!

♪ I'M HERE TO STAY.

♪ I'VE GOT THE WIND ON MY BACK AND NOW I'M WIDE AWAKE. ♪

♪ IN THIS MOMENT, I AM FINALLY... ♪

[UPBEAT MUSIC] ♪

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