This is one of the best movies I have seen in a while! I originally came across this story in manuscript form, having reviewed it for The Dove Foundation. We awarded the manuscript five Doves, our highest rating, due to the great themes and wholesome way it is presented. I have now reviewed the DVD and, guess what? In my opinion, it gets five Doves for the filmed story! It is that good. The filmmakers stayed true to the manuscript’s story and they now present us with a wonderful family movie and, happy to say, with quality production values and strong performances by Dean Cain as Murph, the coach of the River Rats, and Luke Schroder, who plays the highly functional autistic pitcher with the super arm, Mickey Tussler.
The River Rats, a semi-professional baseball team in Clayton, Ohio, in the beginning of the film are 0-13 and just trying to win one game. Murph goes off in search of some talent and when he runs his car into a ditch, which is snared by mud, he comes across Mickey Tussler. Mickey is reluctant to speak with strangers but Coach Murphy talks him into taking him to his home so he can make a phone call. While there, he sees Mickey pitching apples as Mickey’s pet pig Oscar hangs around. Mickey has a super arm and Murph sees this immediately. Although his father is overprotective, he allows Mickey to join the coach for a game to learn if Mickey can throw a baseball in a game like he can toss apples in a farm yard.
Mickey makes good but a fellow pitcher, Lefty, is jealous and plots to shake Mickey up a bit one evening. This story is dramatic, inspirational, and wholesome all at the same time. It is a story of faith, of honoring God, and doing one’s best with one’s God-given talents. Dean Cain is perfect for his role as the strong but caring coach, and Luke Schroder handles the autistic Mickey adeptly. Here we go again, five Doves! This movie earns our Dove “Faith-Friendly” Seal for all ages. Watch it soon with your family.