Laura Berg facts for kids
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Berg snags a fly ball during batting practice in 2008
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| Current position | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Title | Head coach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Oregon State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conference | Pac-12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Record | 166–156–1 (.515) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biographical details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | January 6, 1975 Whittier, California, U.S. |
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| Playing career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Fresno State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Fresno State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | WPSL Gold | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Outfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College Softball | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2003 | Fresno State (asst.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Fresno State (asst.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Oregon State (asst.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–present | Oregon State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Softball | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | USA Women's Softball (asst.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coaching record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | 166–156–1 (.515) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournaments | NCAA: 3–8 (.273) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accomplishments and honors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As player:
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As player:
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Medal record
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Laura Kay Berg (born January 6, 1975) is an American softball coach and a former amazing player. She is currently the head coach for the Oregon State team.
As a player, Laura was a four-time All-American and an Olympian. She played for the Fresno State Bulldogs from 1994 to 1998. During her time there, her team won the 1998 Women's College World Series. She holds many records for her college conference, like the most hits, runs, and triples.
Laura Berg is one of only four women to have won four Olympic medals in softball. She won a medal at every Olympics where softball was played! She is also a member of the USA Softball Hall of Fame.
Contents
College Career at Fresno State
Laura Berg was born in Whittier, California and grew up in Santa Fe Springs. She graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1993. She and her twin sister went to Fresno State and played for the school's softball team.
In her first year, 1994, she was named a Third Team All-American. Her team made it to the Women's College World Series (WCWS).
As a sophomore in 1995, Laura earned First Team All-American honors. She hit very well and set a new school record for triples. This record still stands today!
After taking a year off to play in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Laura returned to college. In 1997, she again earned First Team All-American honors. She was one of the top players in the conference for hits, doubles, and triples.
In 1998, her senior year, Laura was named First Team All-American for the last time. She had her best batting average and set a school record for runs scored. She also had an amazing 29-game hitting streak!
Laura and the Bulldogs returned to the WCWS in 1998. They played very well, beating teams like the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Michigan Wolverines. They made it to the finals, their school's fifth time reaching that stage.
In the championship game, they faced the Arizona Wildcats, who had won the title twice before. Laura had a hit, and her teammate Nina Lindenberg hit a home run to win the title for Fresno State! Laura played great in the tournament and was named to the All-Tournament team.
When she graduated, Laura held many career records for Fresno State, including hits, triples, runs, and stolen bases. She is also second all-time in NCAA Division I career hits.
Playing for Team USA
Laura Berg joined the U.S. National Team in 1994. That year, they won the gold medal at the 1994 ISF Women's World Championship.
She took a break from college in 1996 to play in the Atlanta Olympics, where she won her first Olympic gold medal. In 1998, she won her second gold medal at the World Championships.
At the 1999 Pan American Games, Laura helped the U.S. team win gold again. In the 2000 Summer Olympics, she hit the winning run in the 8th inning of the gold medal game!
Laura continued to play for the national team from 2000 to 2003. She won more gold medals at the 2002 World Championships and the 2003 Pan American Games.
In the 2004 Athens Olympics, she started in eight of nine games and played perfectly in the outfield. In the gold medal game, the U.S. team won against Australia. In 2006, Laura won her fourth straight World Championship. Playing in four World Championships is a record!
In 2007, Laura won another gold medal at her third Pan American Games. She was even chosen to carry the U.S. flag during the closing ceremony!
At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Team USA won a silver medal. This was the only time in Olympic history the U.S. did not win gold in softball. Laura played well, hitting .500 for the tournament. She made an amazing diving catch that helped save a perfect game for her teammate Monica Abbott. After these Olympics, Laura retired from playing internationally.
Coaching Career
Laura Berg started her coaching journey as an assistant coach at Fresno State from 2000 to 2003, while still playing for Team USA. She returned to Fresno State as an assistant coach for the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
In 2011, Laura joined the coaching staff at the Oregon State Beavers softball program. She helped them reach a regional tournament in 2012.
On August 27, 2012, Laura Berg was named the head coach for Oregon State. She has been leading the team ever since. In 2012, she was also an assistant coach for Team USA and helped them win a World Cup.
Awards and Honors
Laura Berg has received many awards and honors throughout her career:
- She was a 4-time NFCA All-American player.
- She was named to the 25th WCWS Anniversary Team.
- In 2012, she and her 2004 Team USA teammates were inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame.
- She was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Images for kids
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Center fielder Laura Berg snags a fly ball during batting practice.
