The Triangle Sports Commission will host the Bound for Beijing Banquet honoring the United States and Canada Olympic Baseball Teams on July 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Embassy Suites in Cary.

The two teams will be in the Triangle to play four games prior to departing for Beijing on Aug. 5 for the Olympics. The first game, on Aug. 1, will be played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, while the other three games will be played at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park the following three days.

The Bound for Beijing Banquet is a unique opportunity to see the teams up close and personal, welcome them to North Carolina and wish them luck as they journey to China to represent their countries in the XXIX Summer Olympic Games.

The entire rosters of the U.S. and Canadian teams will be present, as well as USA team manager Davey Johnson and USA team general manager Bob Watson, both of whom own World Series rings from their Major League Baseball careers. Tickets are on sale to the general public and can be purchased at trianglesportscommission.com.

O’Connell MVP

Cary’s Kevin O’Connell won all three of his matches in the Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at Tokyo Golf Club last week and was named the tournament’s MVP.

O’Connell, the ACC Freshmen of the Year and a Ping All-America Third Team selection at North Carolina, had a three-day total of 208, best in the field. He shot in the 60s in two of his three rounds, including a 69 on Friday, when the U.S. won eight and halved two matches to win the competition 37-23.

Prestonwood wins SWIM title

Prestonwood compiled 2,897.5 points and won the third annual Marlins of Raleigh South Wake Invitational Meet on July 13. Lochmere Swim Club was second with 2,098.5 points, and third place went to Shepherd’s Vineyard Swim Club with 1,402.

Prestonwood’s strength was clearly on the girls’ side, as their girls outscored Lochmere by 650 points. Lochmere had a balanced attack, scoring 1,095.5 in the girls and 1,003 in the boys.

More than 850 swimmers and 17 teams competed in the meet at Sunset Ridge Swim Club in Holly Springs. SWIM was created by MOR as a way to alleviate the growing number of swimmers who were attending the Cary City Invitational as a result of population increase in the area and popularity of swimming. Both meets were a success and provided a great opportunity for all the swimmers to compete in a summer league championship meet.

Hope’s Hope Golf Classic

On Aug. 11, Hope’s Hope will host its third annual Hope’s Hope Golf Classic. The tournament will be held at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. A silent auction will begin at 9:30. Tee-off time will be at 10. An hors d’hoeuvres award reception will follow tournament play, complete with trophies for first, second and third place, door prizes and a grand prize raffle. Many course contests are available, including a $5,000 putting contest, a $10,000 hole-in-one contest, as well as longest drive and closest-to-the-pin challenges.

Registration is open online at hopes-hope.org. Cost is $500 for a foursome or $150 for individuals. The tournament will be handicapped so all level of players are welcome.

All proceeds will benefit the mission of Hope’s Hope, and a portion of the registration fee is tax deductible. Hope’s Hope was established in February 2005 by a dedicated group of volunteers committed to providing assistance to families who have children battling a class of rare, terminal neurodegenerative disorders. The inspiration for Hope’s Hope is 6-year-old Hope Johnston of Apex, who was born with the rare genetic disorder infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy.

Visit hopes-hope.org for more information, or contact Cheri McDonald at 819-2736 or Shelda Northcutt at 815-5215.