Berg, USA Headed to Pan-Am Semis
TORONTO – Oregon State head coach Laura Berg and the USA Softball Team are set to compete in the semifinal round of the Pan-American Games Friday evening in Toronto. The Stars and Stripes will face off against host-nation Canada at 4 p.m. PT.
The USA was dominant in the round-robin phase, posting a perfect 5-0 record, while outscoring its opponents 43-4. That string of victories includes a 7-0 win over Canada on Tuesday. Should the Americans continue their winning ways Friday evening, they will advance to the Gold-Medal Game Sunday at 8 a.m. PT.
Team USA is currently hitting .409 at the Pan-American Games, paced by five players batting .500 or better. Kellie Fox leads the way, notching seven hits in 10 at-bats, while recording two home runs and a pair of doubles. Valerie Arioto has notched four extra-base hits and eight RBIs.
The American squad won gold at the World Cup of Softball earlier this month. For more on that tournament, click here.
Berg has continued her legacy with the national team in a coaching capacity after a playing career that saw her become 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 won 11 total medals as a player, 10 gold, while competing for the U.S. in the Olympic Games, the ISF Women's World Championship and the Pan American Games.
