Berg Named Junior Women's National Team Head Coach
March 02, 2016 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Oregon State head softball coach Laura Berg has been selected as the head coach for the 2017 USA Softball Junior Women's National Team, the Amateur Softball Association of America and USA Softball announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Berg, USA Softball's only four-time Olympian and fourth-year skipper of the Beaver softball team, will lead the USA Softball JWNT at the World Baseball Softball Confederation Junior Women's World Championship, slated to be held in Clearwater, Fla. in July of 2017.
“I'm very excited to lead the Junior Women's National Team and honored to once again wear the Red, White and Blue,” Berg said. “I'm looking forward to working with a special group of young athletes that will have an unforgettable experience as we defend Team USA's Gold Medal finish at the 2015 WBSC JWWC. Go USA!”
Berg has served as an assistant coach for the USA Softball Women's National Team for four seasons, as well as one season (2013) with the Junior Women's National Team. As a member of the Women's National Team, Berg cemented herself as one of the game's all-time great outfielders, helping the Stars and Stripes to gold medals in 1996, 2000 and 2004, as well as a silver medal in 2008.
In addition to her Olympic credentials, Berg helped USA to a combined seven additional gold medals as an outfielder across four World Baseball Softball Confederation World Championships and three Pan-American Championships. She was also a member of the coaching staff for three gold medal teams at the World Cup of Softball, as well as two silver medal teams at the WBSC World Championships and a silver medal-winning team at the 2015 Pan-American Games.
As Oregon State's head coach this season, Berg has led the Beavers to a 14-2 start, matching the top start in program history, only accomplished by the 2006 Women's College World Series team. Behind its strong start, the Oregon State softball team was recently ranked No. 22 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll.
At the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation Junior Women's World Championship, Berg's Junior Women's National Team staff will be rounded out with Fresno State head coach Trisha Ford, UT Arlington head coach Kristie Fox and John Rittman.
For more information on the Oregon State softball team, follow the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/OregonStateSB, by Facebook at Facebook.com/OregonStateSB or on Instagram at Instagram.com/OregonStateSB.
About OSU Athletics: The mission of the OSU Department of Athletics is to provide opportunities to young people and develop leaders through a tradition of academic and athletic achievement in a progressive, inclusive environment of mutual respect.
