Laura Berg Added To USA Women's National Team Coaching Staff
May 10, 2012
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Oregon State softball assistant coach Laura Berg, a four-time Olympic medalist, will be back with the Red, White and Blue this summer as an assistant coach for the Women's National Team the Amateur Softball Association/USA Softball announced today. Berg, who is in her first year working with Kirk Walker in Corvallis, will join head coach Ken Eriksen (South Florida Head Coach) and assistants Mike White (Oregon Head Coach) and Tairia Flowers (Cal State Northridge Head Coach) on the National Team staff for the 2012 season.
Berg, who joined the national team in 1994 as a center fielder, is the most decorated USA Softball Olympic athlete in history, helping her nation to three golds (1996 - Atlanta, 2000 - Sydney, 2004 - Athens) and one silver (2008 - Beijing). She has won 11 total medals, 10 gold, while competing for the U.S. in the Olympic Games, the ISF Women's World Championship and the Pan American Games.
"It was such an honor to wear the Red, White and Blue as a player for many years," Berg said. "And now it's even more of an honor and privilege to be a part of this coaching staff for the 2012 season and the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships. I am really excited for my new role and looking forward to this opportunity."
As a player for Fresno State in the mid-1990s, Berg was a four-time All-American whose collegiate career was highlighted by a NCAA Championship title in 1998. She led her squad to three Women's College World Series appearances, two Western Athletic Conference crowns and helped Fresno State to a 206-60 (.774) record in her four-year career.
Her name is scattered throughout the NCAA, WAC and Fresno State record books in a number of offensive categories. She is second all-time in career hits in NCAA history (396), is 12th in runs (245) and her 25 career triples tie her for 23rd. Berg finished her career with a .414 batting average and by the time her senior season ended in 1998, she ranked first in school history in triples, runs, hits and stolen bases, while also finishing as the WAC's career leader in triples, runs, hits, at bats, games played and total bases. She is the only Fresno State player to amass 300 or more career hits and also posted a 160-game defensive errorless streak in the field.
"I am very excited to have one of the world's best outfielders join our National Team staff," said head coach Eriksen. "Laura Berg's tenacity and knowledge of fast pitch softball at the international level can only enhance our program's climb towards the ISF World Championship this summer."
Berg previously had two stints as an assistant coach at her alma mater from 2000-03 and 2005-06, stepping down to train with the U.S. Women's National Team in the interim, before coming to Oregon State in September of last year.
Working primarily with the Beavers' outfielders and slappers, she has been instrumental in Oregon State's best season on the diamond since 2007. OSU's 33-19 record through 52 games is the program's best mark in five years. The Beavers, who have defeated eight ranked opponents and been ranked for six straight weeks, have all but assured themselves of advancing to a NCAA Regional for the first time in the last half-decade.
The final 2012 Women's National Team roster will be named on June 13 after a selection camp that takes place June 9-12 in Ashland, Ohio. The 2012 ISF XIII World Women's Championship will be held from July 13-22 in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
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