The Knoxville and Pella Christian baseball teams went the distance and then some Thursday at the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, and Lincoln Norris delivered the Panthers a 4-1 win in extras innings heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Eagles’ Grant Kelderman and Knoxville’s Kyler Gifford took center stage at the site of the iconic 1989 movie, as the two right-handers locked their squads into a pitcher’s duel for much of the evening. After five scoreless innings to open the game, Pella Christian broke through for the game’s first run in the top of the sixth, as Eliot Menninga singled, moved to second on a Grant Kelderman single, and scored on a Conor Van Zee single. The Panthers bounced back and got out of the inning before answering back in the bottom of the seventh, when Luke Roozeboom drew a lead off walk, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Gifford single. With seven innings not being enough to break the 1-1 tie, Knoxville’s offense finally found its rhythm in the extra eighth frame. After Brenden Woolsey drew a one-out walk, Roozeboom singled him to third, and Lincoln Norris lived out the ultimate dream at the Field of Dreams with a three-run walk-off homer to left field.

Gifford secured the complete game win on the mound for Knoxville, striking out six while allowing just one run on five hits and two walks. Kelderman suffered a no-decision for the Eagles, striking out 14 batters in 6.1 innings while allowing just one run on five hits and four walks. Conor Van Zee suffered the loss for Pella Christian in 1.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs on three hits, one walk, and one strike out. The Panthers improved to 11-6 overall with the win, while the Eagles fell to 5-16 on the summer.

The Knoxville baseball team is back in action tonight for a home doubleheader against Centerville at 5 pm, while Pella Christian is also back at home tonight for a single non-conference game against Des Moines Christian at 7 pm.