A year ago, The Final Season – a  film about baseball history being made in Norway, Iowa – was released in theatres nationwide. Norway is a town of fewer than 600 yet won 19 state championships in 25 years and sent 16 of its players on to professional baseball careers. 
      The man who built that legacy was Jim Van Scoyoc, a 1965 William Penn graduate. 
      After all those years of success in a town that lived and breathed baseball, a decision was made to close Norway High School in favor of consolidation in 1992. Van Scoyoc left Norway to take a coaching position with the Detroit Tigers, and Kent Stock, his assistant, became head coach for the final season.
      Talk of making a film based on the Norway story began as early as 1991, but it wasn’t until 2006 that the movie was produced. Filming took place in Shellsburg, Norway and Cedar Rapids, with some Oskaloosans serving as extras in the shooting.
      Van Scoyoc will return to the Penn campus next week to talk about his role as consultant for the filmmaking and to visit with future teachers and coaches in several classes. In preparation for his visit, students will have an opportunity to watch The Final Season, which is now available on DVD. They will recognize a Penn sweatshirt worn by the Van Scoyoc character in the film. 
      The community is invited to attend a public presentation by Van Scoyoc on Tuesday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chief Mahaska Room of the Union. For more information, contact the public relations office at (641) 673-1382.