Chinese Olympic team to face Scorpions in Yuma

Major League Spring Training may have snubbed Yuma this year, but the Olympics have not.

The Chinese national team, which will compete in this year's Olympics, will come to Yuma to face the Scorpions in the Golden Baseball League's spring training finale at 6:35 p.m. May 21, the league is set to announce today.

 The national team, coached by former big league manager Jim Lefebvre, will face the Mike Marshall-led Scorpions at Desert Sun Stadium.

 GBL commissioner Kevin Outcalt said the Chinese team - which beat traditional Asian power South Korea earlier this year - was looking to face some pro-level competition.

 "They were basically playing against themselves," Outcalt said. "The had faced some spring training teams in Arizona the past couple months, and they wanted something close by. We were contacted to see if we were interested."

 The Chinese team will face the Long Beach Armada on May 16 and 17, before being featured at a Dodger game afterwards - although Outcalt said they are not playing the Dodgers. They arrive in Yuma on May 20 to begin practicing for the next day's game. Those practice will be open to the public, Outcalt said.

 "That way, we can showcase them in Yuma, which I don't know if it's ever had a Chinese Olympic team in any sport playing a competitive event," Outcalt said. "That's great for the city."