There are only five more days until the Olympic flame arrives in Beijing for the opening ceremonies at the summer games, and the road to China is winding right through the Triangle.

The U.S.A. Baseball team played Canada Sunday night at the D-BAP.

This afternoon many fans went to the stadium early to get autographs from the Olympic athletes. Some came from as far away as Texas to see the team.

This may be the last year anyone gets to see a United States Olympic baseball team play -- there may be no U.S.A. Baseball team in the 2012 Olympics.

"It's going to be an honor, especially if we go over there and do what we're suppose to do and win a gold and hopefully by doing that it will help prolong Olympic baseball and maybe come back in 2016," said Jeremy Cummings, who will pitch for the 2008 U.S.A. Olympic Team in Beijing.

Right now he enjoys wearing red, white, and blue at his home stadium, but the Durham Bulls player is ready to hit the road.

"What an honor to represent the country and be a part of it all," he said.

Jacob Rodriquez came all the way from Texas to see his cousin, Cummings, play.

"He loves to play baseball," he said.

Rodriguez said this team has what it takes to take home the gold.

"They're a pretty good team, they work together well," he said.

Whether this is the last year, or if the Olympics re-instate baseball in the future, the lessons one can learn from the team can last a lifetime.

"If you keep working, anything you want is possible. Hard work can get you what you want. Your dream can come true," said Jacob Rodriguez's dad, Julio Rodriguez.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I think for myself and my son. You know we don't know the state of the sport, whether it will be around next year in the Olympics. I look at them as once in a lifetime opportunities," said Jeff Curren. He drove from Charlotte with his son to see the game.

Team officials said there will be a vote in October 2009 to make a decision on whether or not there will be a team for the 2012 games.

The team heads to Beijing on Tuesday. Their first game will be on August 13, against Korea.

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