Baseball has one more shot locally before football takes the stage for 2009.

Larry Dyson Motors Durant American Legion baseballers will host Ardmore today and Friday in a two-team Zone shootout with the winner advancing to the State Tournament.

Games will be played at the Multi-Sports Complex at 5 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Friday. The if-necessary game is set for 8 p.m. Friday.

Durant and Ardmore have played five times this season and coach Jared Howard’s Durant club holds a 4-3 edge in the series.

The teams split doubleheaders in home games and Durant topped Ardmore in the Harlene Taylor Gumm 4th of July Tournament.

THIS HAS NOT been an easy year for Durant American Legion baseball.

Games have been lost to weather and lack of players, both for Durant and opponents. All-Star games cut into the available manpower when the top dogs go out to play and some clubs just don’t have enough left to field a team.

Some teams, of course, enter tournaments and never show up. Yeah, we should call and check to be sure if the team is coming.

Well, we did. The answer was yes. The visitors lied.

DURANT IS TWO wins away from the State Tournament and that could make it a dandy year despite the 15-9 record.

Dyson Motors will have 18 on the roster and Ardmore has listed 16. Rosters should be taken with several grains of salt.

Trivia: Durant has two players who graduated in 2008, Ardmore three.

Durant has seven who graduated this year, Ardmore nine.

Durant has nine who will graduate in 2010, Ardmore four.

Six of Durant’s nine are from Silo. Big surprise. Coach Billy Jack Bowen’s Rebels just won the State Championship.

These guys know how to play the game.

Durant has 10 players at 6-0 or taller, topped off by Kenton Stanley (6-4, 200) of Silo, another who has a year of high school remaining.

Ardmore has nine at 6-0 or taller, topping out at 6-3.

Now all you have to do is come out tonight and Friday and watch these guys duke it out for a trip to the State Tournament.

SWITCHING SPORTS for an advance look at local football.

Durant High School and Southeastern report August 5 and that’s just 13 days away.

Southeastern gets the jump on regular-season play when Henderson State’s Reddies come to Paul Laird Field for a 7 p.m. game on Thursday, August 27.

Durant High’s schedule shows a season-opening trip to McAlester and a 7:30 p.m. first kick on September 5, which is a Saturday.

SE’s second game is at home September 5 against Midwestern State and Durant will host Ada on September 12.