Poteau, a logical place for an OK Kids State Tournament

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POTEAU A GOOD PALCE FOR STATE — Durant base-runner Shawn Harper, right, slides safely into home plate on a wild pitch as Elk City pitcher Trent Lewallen covers home plate in the third inning. With the success of last year's LeFlore County OK Kids baseball teams, Poteau seemed like a logical choice to be a host site for a state tournament. PDN Staff Photo by David Seeley

When Poteau was named the 2011 OK Kids Midget State Tournament host city, it just seemed a natural fit.
Tournament-host Poteau Pirates Coach Dr. Steve Smith said that what may have helped in Poteau landing this summer's state tournament was the success enjoyed by four LeFlore County OK Kids teams last year.
Panama's team won last summer's OK Kids Midget State Tournament.
The Wister Wildcats were the state runners-up in the 2010 Preps State Tournament. They are also there this season, and they won their state opener 8-6 Tuesday afternoon in McLoud.
Spiro had two successful OK Kids teams in 2010, one was runner-up in the OK Kids Coach-Pitch State Tournament, while the other was second in the OK Kids Peewee State Tournament.
That just might bode well for the Pirates come Saturday night.