Not Approved

The Final Season

Nowhere is the tradition of baseball’s roots in Americana more evident than in tiny Norway, Iowa, population 586, where the exploits of Norway High School became legendary. From ESPN to Baseball Weekly, reporters mused at how a school of fewer than 100 students could win 19 State Baseball Championships, frequently against schools five times their size. Baseball and winning against impossible odds was in the blood of these skinny farm kids, passed down from generation to generation like a lucky glove.

Coach Jim Van Scoyoc, three time Regional Coach of the Year and, more recently National Coach of the Year, gets most of the credit. He’s a baseball man’s baseball man, whose look of disapproval can melt concrete. He believes in coaching the fundamentals and coaching to win that last game, not the next game.

Young Kent Stock, 24, remembers reading about Norway baseball as a kid. After playing in high school and college he accepts a teaching position in nearby Belle Plaine. But a chance meeting with Coach Jim earns him the opportunity of a lifetime, to be an assistant coach at Norway. From working on the field to hitting fungos to the state championship game, it’s the best summer of his life.

As the 1990-91 school year begins, Kent moves to St. Louis and starts a new career as a banker. But rumors are turning into reality back in Norway, declining enrollment and increasing state regulations are threatening to close the high school. Jim shows up at the bank to let Kent know that there’s a big town meeting with the school board to try and save the high school from merging with nearby Madison Community.
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Negative Rating
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SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
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Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

Norway, Iowa loves their high school baseball. So much so that the post office hangs a sign in the window during a big baseball game which says, “Nobody’s Grandma died. At the ballgame.” Young Kent Stock takes over a team which has been successfully coached for years by Jim Van Scoyoc, who has won several awards for his talent as a coach. Stock is set up to fail by a member of the school board who wants to merge the school with nearby Madison High School. But as Stock overcomes several obstacles the town swells with excitement as Norway attempts to win its twentieth, and final, championship.

This film has several nice themes, including the theme of perseverance, community, and making an effort to be remembered for the right things. Sean Astin, Powers Boothe and Rachael Leigh Cook all give good performances. It is a shame that due to strong language we are unable to award our Dove Seal to this film.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

A teen spits in the presence of his father who grabs him and corrects him; team members go after teammate on bus and bus goes off road.

1
Sex

Kissing.

4
Language

F-1; H-6; S-2; BS-1; BS (Initials)-3; A-4; OMG-1; Bu*ts-1; P-2; Cr*p-3; Sc*ewed-1; Slang for testicles-1

2
Violence

A teen spits in the presence of his father who grabs him and corrects him; team members go after teammate on bus and bus goes off road.

2
Drugs

A teen puts a cigarette in his mouth a few times but doesn't light it and he is reprimanded by his father; drinking of wine; men drink alcohol during ball game; a boy offers to buy a fellow player cigarettes and then a six pack if he pitches well; boys try to buy cigarettes at convenience store and are refused; a boy asks where weed (marijuana) can be found and he is told that it isn't used around there; man smokes cigar.

1
Nudity

Coach gets out of shower and has towel and is barechested; another man's bare chest is seen as he works on the farm.

2
Other

From a distance a students flips off a teacher; a teen takes his grandfather's truck against his wishes but he is stopped by police and he changes his behavior; school board member mistreats coach; man has heart attack while driving bus.

More Information