Laura Berg

Laura Kay Berg (born January 6, 1975) is an American college softball head coach for Oregon State and a former collegiate four-time All-American and Olympian.[3] She played for the Fresno State Bulldogs from 1994–98, where she won the 1998 Women's College World Series and owns the Western Athletic Conference career records in hits, runs and triples.[4] She is one of only four women to have won four Olympic medals in softball, having won a medal at every Olympics the sport was contested.[5] She is second all-time in NCAA Division I career hits and at-bats. She is also a USA Softball Hall of Fame honoree.

Laura Berg
Berg snags a fly ball during batting practice in 2008
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamOregon State
ConferencePac-12
Record166–156–1 (.515)
Biographical details
Born (1975-01-06) January 6, 1975
Whittier, California, U.S.
Playing career
1994–1995Fresno State
1997–1998Fresno State
2001WPSL Gold
Position(s)Outfielder
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
College Softball
2000–2003Fresno State (asst.)
2006Fresno State (asst.)
2012Oregon State (asst.)
2013–presentOregon State
National Softball
2019USA Women's Softball (asst.)
Head coaching record
Overall166–156–1 (.515)
TournamentsNCAA: 3–8 (.273)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As player:
Awards
As player:
Medal record
Women's softball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 AtlantaTeam competition
Gold medal – first place 2000 SydneyTeam competition
Gold medal – first place 2004 AthensTeam competition
Silver medal – second place 2008 BeijingTeam competition
ISF Women's World Championship[1]
Gold medal – first place 1994 St. John'sTeam competition
Gold medal – first place 1998 FujinomiyaTeam competition
Gold medal – first place 2002 SaskatoonTeam competition
Gold medal – first place 2006 BeijingTeam competition
Pan-American Games[2]
Gold medal – first place 1999 WinnipegTeam competition
Gold medal – first place 2003 Santo DomingoTeam competition
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de JaneiroTeam competition

Fresno State

Berg was born in Whittier, California and raised in nearby Santa Fe Springs, graduating from Santa Fe High School in 1993.[6][7] Berg and her twin sister enrolled at Fresno State and started for the school's softball team. In her first season, she was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association Third Team All-American.[8] The Bulldogs made it to the WCWS and took their first game before dropping back-to-back shutout games against eventual champions the Arizona Wildcats and the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on May 27, 1994.[9][10] Berg had two hits in the tournament.

As a sophomore, Berg would earn First Team All-American honors while hitting over .400 and setting a new school season record for triples, which also led the WAC conference.[11] She currently still claims that record.

After red-shirting to compete at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Berg returned and once again earned NFCA First Team honors.[12] She joined school elite with top-5 season records in batting average, hits (led the WAC), doubles and triples. She also managed to reach the 7th best season hits total all-time for an NCAA season, which now ranks in the top-15.

In her second WCWS appearance, Berg and the Bulldogs were shutout in their first game but rebounded strongly by winning their next three including shutting out eventual champion Arizona Wildcats in the semifinals. Berg hit a double and scored the eventual winning run.[13] In the second game of the doubleheader, Berg singled in her first two at-bats and scored each time to take the lead, however, Arizona tied the score immediately and went on to win 6–3 on May 25, 1997.[14]

For her senior campaign, Berg was named 1998 First Team All-American for a final time.[15] The senior achieved a career best batting average (led the WAC as well as a school record in runs. Her stolen bases ranked top-5 for a Bulldog season. Beginning April 17 until May 8, Berg would go on a 29 consecutive game hit streak, a career best and the NCAA's 6th best all-time.

Returning to the WCWS, the team began its march by defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers 6–1 on May 21 with Berg scoring the eventual winning run.[16] They mercy ruled Michigan Wolverines before losing to the Washington Huskies in the semifinals on May 24.[17] Berg and teammates responded by besting the Huskies by 5 runs in the rematch, Berg led off with a single and helped stake the Bulldogs to a first-inning two-run lead to make it into their school's 5th finals appearance.

Berg had a hit and won the title on teammate Nina Lindenberg's solo home run to defeat the two-time defending champions the Arizona Wildcats.[18] For the tournament, Berg hit .470 (8/17) with 2 RBIs to be named All-Tournament.[19]

Berg would graduate as the school career record holder in hits, triples, runs and stolen bases.[20][7] She also was tops in conference career hits, triples, runs, at-bats as well as the third best average all-time.[21] Her NCAA career puts her second in hits and at-bats all-time for a career.[22]

National team

Berg would also join the United States national team in 1994, participating in the 1994 ISF Women's World Championship, where the US team won the gold medal.[7] Berg redshirted at Fresno State in 1996, the year that she won her first Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.[7] In 1998, she won her second gold medal at the world championships.[2] At the 1999 Pan American Games Berg performed well in the gold medal effort, batting .375 for the tournament with 15 hits.[2] In the 2000 Summer Olympics Berg drove in the winning run in the 8th inning of the gold medal game.[7]

From 2000 to 2003 she participated at tournaments with the national team.[7] She added gold medals at the 2002 World Championships and 2003 Pan American Games to her resume, batting .471 in the Pan-Americans.[2] In the 2004 Athens Olympics she started eight of the nine games, batting .368, and held a perfect fielding average.[2] In the gold medal game on August 23, Berg had a hit in the eventual win over Australia.[23] In 2006 Berg won her fourth consecutive World Championship in Beijing.[2] Berg's four World Championship appearances is a record for the event.[2]

In 2007 Berg returned to her third Pan American Games, where she won another gold medal, and was chosen to carry the U.S. flag during the closing ceremonies.[2] At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she captured a silver medal with the Team USA,[2] the only time in Olympic history the United States did not win the gold medal.[24] Berg did not play in the gold medal game but did hit .500 for the tournament highlighted by a diving catch to save Monica Abbott's perfect game vs. the Netherlands on August 17. After the finals, Berg along with teammates retired from international competition.[25]

Coaching

Berg joined the staff at the Oregon State Beavers program in 2011. In 2012, she helped coach them to a regional appearance.[26]

She was named Oregon State's head coach on August 27, 2012.[26]

Personal life

Berg was an assistant coach at Fresno State from 2000–2003, as she continuing to participate with Team USA. She returned to her alma mater coaching staff for 2005 and 2006 seasons.[7] Eventually she left her post to train with the national team. Berg was invited to be an assistant coach with Team USA in 2012, helping them win a World Cup.[27]

In 2006, Berg was named to 25th Anniversary WCWS Team.[28] In 2012, she along with her 2004 Team USA teammates were named to the Olympics Hall of Fame.[29]

Awards and honors
  • 2005 International Sports Invitational Champion
  • 2001 Played for WPSL Gold Professional Team consisting of 2000 Olympians
  • WAC Champions – Fresno State
  • Second FSU player to record 100 or more hits in a season
  • 4-Time NFCA All-American (3 First-Team; Third-Team)
  • 4-Time NCAA All-Regional Team
  • 25th WCWS Anniversary Team
  • Olympic Hall of Fame (2004 Team USA)
  • Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame (2009)[30]

Statistics

Fresno State Bulldogs
YEAR G AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
1994 65 238 42 83 .348 20 2 5 4 103 .433% 4 8 5 6
1995 69 238 62 101 .424 31 1 11 13 139 .584% 10 3 11 13
1997 69 245 69 104 .424 34 2 7 16 140 .571% 5 2 7 8
1998 63 236 72 108 .457 16 1 2 3 118 .500% 2 4 16 17
TOTALS 266 957 245 396 .414 101 6 25 36 500 .522% 21 17 39 44

Team USA
YEAR AB R H BA RBI HR 3B 2B TB SLG BB SO SB SBA
1996 22 2 6 .272 0 0 0 1 7 .318% 0 0 0 0
2000 38 2 6 .158 0 0 0 0 6 .158% 0 2 0 0
2004 130 37 47 .361 23 2 1 3 55 .423% 2 2 4 4
2008 100 59 46 .460 11 0 2 4 54 .540% 7 3 1 2
TOTALS 290 100 105 .362 34 2 3 8 125 .431% 9 7 5 6

Head Coaching Record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Oregon State Beavers (Pac-12 Conference) (2013–present)
2013 Oregon State 34–248–168thNCAA Regional
2014 Oregon State 18–315–177th
2015 Oregon State 26–266–188th
2016 Oregon State 30–20–19–147thNCAA Regional
2017 Oregon State 28–279–15T–6thNCAA Regional
2018 Oregon State 30–289–146thNCAA Regional
2019 Oregon State 26–198–146th
2020 Oregon State 17–90–0Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Oregon State 20–267–177th
2022 Oregon State 39–229–156thWomen's College World Series
Oregon State: 268–232–1 (.536)70–140 (.333)
Total:268–232–1 (.536)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References
  1. "USA Softball Laura Berg". Amateur Softball Association. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  2. "Laura Berg". United States Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on February 25, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  3. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Laura Berg Biography and Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  4. "FRESNO ST. WCWS STATS" (PDF). Fs.ncaa.org. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Softball". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  6. "Laura Berg". Fresno State. Archived from the original on October 1, 1999. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  7. "Laura Berg, Assistant Coach". Fresno State Bulldogs. California State University, Fresno. Archived from the original on August 24, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  8. "1994 DI All American Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. "1994 Women's Division I Softball". Ncaa.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  10. "1994 Women's Division I Softball". Ncaa.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. "1995 DI All American Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  12. "1997 DI All American Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  13. "16th Annual NCAA" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  14. "1997 Women's Series" (PDF). Web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  15. "1998 DI All American Teams". Nfca.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  16. "1998 Women's Division I Softball". Ncaa.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  17. "1998 Women's Division I Softball". Ncaa.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  18. "1998 Women's Division I Softball". Ncaa.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  19. "Division I Softball Championship Results" (PDF). Fs.ncaa.org. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  20. "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  21. "WAC 2021 Softball Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  22. "Division I Softball Records" (PDF). Fs.ncaa.org. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  23. "USA Softball – Features, Events, Results – Team USA". Team USA. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  24. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Softball Women's Softball Medalists". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  25. "USA Softball – Features, Events, Results – Team USA". Team USA. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  26. Archived May 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  27. "USA Softball – Features, Events, Results – Team USA". Team USA. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  28. "NCAA 25th Anniversary Team to be Honored Monday at WCWS". Nfca.org. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  29. "Berg Inducted into U.S. Olympic HOF". Gobuldogs.com. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  30. "Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame | Home". Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame | Home. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
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