May 13, 2008

CONTACT: Jake Fehling
(919) 474-8721 x225
jakefehling@usabaseball.com

USA BASEBALL ANNOUNCES FOUR PRE-OLYMPIC DATES PRIOR TO TEAM’S BEIJING DEPARTURE

(DURHAM, N.C.)  - USA Baseball announced today its four pre-Olympic dates prior to the team’s departure for Beijing.  The four-game schedule includes one game in the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. on Aug. 1, and three games in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C., Aug. 2-4.

U.S. Olympic Team Manager Davey Johnson and General Manager Bob Watson joined representatives from USA Baseball, the Durham Bulls, the City of Durham and the Town of Cary at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham to help make the announcement.

“There’s no doubt in our mind that the preparation and support our Olympic Team will get while training here in the Triangle-area will prepare us for the stiff competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games,” said Paul Seiler, Executive Director/CEO of USA Baseball.

The game on Friday, Aug. 1 in Cary will be at 7:05 PM and the three games in Durham – Saturday-Monday, Aug. 2-4, will be at 7:05 PM, 5:05 PM and 7:05 PM, respectively.  Tickets to all four games will go on-sale to the general public on June 5 via www.usabaseball.com <http://www.usabaseball.com/> .   
All four games will be played against the Canadian Olympic Baseball Team who will also be using the series as an Olympic tune-up. 

“I have been hearing all of the great things about the facilities in Cary and Durham, and to be able to utilize them before leaving for Beijing is something I’m very much looking forward to,” said Johnson.  “We are thrilled to be able to share our excitement for the upcoming Games with residents of the Triangle.

“The goal is to win in Beijing, and with the help of everyone here in the Triangle, I know we can do that,” Watson said.

USA Baseball last competed in the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 where it took home the gold medal.

USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee.  The organization selects and trains the United States Olympic Baseball Team (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball National Team (collegiate); the USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year.