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China Olympic Team to Play Two Game Series versus Long Beach Armada

May 9, 2008 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Long Beach Armada News Release


Long Beach, CA, May 9, 2008. The Long Beach Armada, a proud member of the Golden Baseball League (GBL), announced today that they will play two games against the China Olympic Team on Saturday May 17, 2008 at 7:05pm and Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 6:05pm at Historic Blair Field in Long Beach, California.

Managed by former Los Angeles Dodger All-Star and major league Manager Jim Lefebvre, the China National Team is a rising power in the baseball world in Asia with recent victories over Korea and will be one of the eight teams vying for gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Armada, managed by former Los Angeles Dodger and 1981 World Series MVP Steve Yeager, will be playing the two games at Blair Field as part of their preseason training camp in anticipation of the 2008 Golden Baseball season which begins on May 22, 2008.

"We are excited to be able to bring such an interesting match-up and high-quality baseball to our fans in Long Beach," said GBL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt. "Baseball has made great strides in China and I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the players on this China National Team continuing their careers in major league organizations once the Beijing Olympics are completed later this summer."

The series should be a good tune-up for China as they will face a veteran lineup in Long Beach that boasts one of the most experienced professional independent teams in the country with former major league players including four former MLB first round draft picks, -- pitchers Nick Bierbrodt and Jerome Williams, slugger Tony Torcato and catcher David Parrish, two former 2nd round draft choices -- middle infielder Cleatus Davidson and outfielder Norm Hutchins, and a core group of players from the 2007 team that posted the GBL's best overall record and reached the Championship Series for the first time.

"The great City of Long Beach has historically hosted international sporting events including our famed Grand Prix , International Marathon, and the 1984 Summer Olympic volleyball events," said Armada President and General Manager Steven Bash. "Celebrating Historic Blair Field's 50th Anniversary, we are proud to host the China Olympic Team as they prepare for Beijing Summer Games."

The 2008 Beijing Olympics will feature the world's finest baseball teams from around the globe. The eight team tournament is set and will showcase some of the greatest players in the world as China, Cuba, U.S.A., Canada, Netherlands, Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei will compete for the gold medal from August 13 - 23, 2008.

Tickets for the two game series in Long Beach start at $6 and can be ordered by contacting the Long Beach Armada front office at 562-498-4487 or logging on to www.longbeacharmada.com.

About the Long Beach Armada

The Long Beach Armada sail into their fourth season of play as an independent professional minor league ballclub in the Golden Baseball League. Advancing to the GBL Championship Series last season, the team has had 15 players purchased off their roster by Major League organizations in the last three years. New Manager Steve Yeager and the Armada will help celebrate historic Blair Field's 50th anniversary during their 2008 home season. Information on the Armada's 2008 schedule and tickets can be found at www.longbeacharmada.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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