Laura Berg

{{Short description|American softball coach and former player (born 1975)}} {{use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Laura Berg | image = LauraBerg (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Berg in 2008 | current_title = Head coach | current_team = Oregon State | current_conference = Pac-12 | current_record = {{winpct|166|156|1|record=y}} | contract = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|1|6}} | birth_place = Whittier, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = | player_years1 = 1994–1995 | player_team1 = Fresno State | player_years2 = 1997–1998 | player_team2 = Fresno State | player_years3 = 2001 | player_team3 = WPSL Gold | player_positions = Outfielder | coach_sport1 = College Softball | coach_years2 = 2000–2003 | coach_team2 = Fresno State (asst.) | coach_years3 = 2006 | coach_team3 = Fresno State (asst.) | coach_years4 = 2012 | coach_team4 = Oregon State (asst.) | coach_years5 = 2013–present | coach_team5 = Oregon State | coach_sport7 = National Softball | coach_years8 = 2019 | coach_team8 = USA Women's Softball (asst.) | overall_record = {{winpct|166|156|1|record=y}} | bowl_record = | tournament_record = NCAA: {{winpct|3|8|record=y}} | championships = As player: * Women's College World Series (1998) | awards = As player: * 3× first-team All-American (1995, 1997, 1998) * Third-team All-American (1994) | coaching_records = | CFBHOF_year = | CFBHOF_id = | BASKHOF_year = | BASKHOF_id = | CBBASKHOF_year = | CBASEHOF_year = | WBHOF = | FIBA_HOF_player = | uslaxhof_year = | canlaxhof = | nllhof = | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's softball }} {{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalGold| 1996 Atlanta| Team competition}} {{MedalGold| 2000 Sydney| Team competition}} {{MedalGold| 2004 Athens|Team competition}} {{MedalSilver| 2008 Beijing|Team competition}} {{MedalCompetition|ISF Women's World Championship}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usasoftball.com/bios.asp?uid=528 |title=USA Softball Laura Berg |publisher=Amateur Softball Association |access-date=9 April 2010}}</ref> {{MedalGold| 1994 St. John's|Team competition}} {{MedalGold| 1998 Fujinomiya|Team competition}} {{MedalGold| 2002 Saskatoon|Team competition}} {{MedalGold| 2006 Beijing|Team competition}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan-American Games}}<ref name=USOC>{{cite web |url=http://softball.teamusa.org/athletes/laura-berg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225130009/http://softball.teamusa.org/athletes/laura-berg |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 25, 2010 |title=Laura Berg |publisher=United States Olympic Committee |access-date=9 April 2010}}</ref> {{MedalGold| 1999 Winnipeg|Team competition}} {{MedalGold| 2003 Santo Domingo|Team competition}} {{MedalGold| 2007 Rio de Janeiro|Team competition}} }}

'''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.<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/laura-berg-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417044424/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/be/laura-berg-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |title=Laura Berg Biography and Olympic Results |access-date=April 8, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/softball_wcws_stats/1998/fresnost.htm |format=PDF |title=FRESNO ST. WCWS STATS |publisher=Fs.ncaa.org |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref name="medalleader">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/SOF/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040444/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/SOF/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |title=Softball |access-date=March 26, 2010}}</ref> She is second all-time in NCAA Division I career hits and at-bats. She is also a USA Softball Hall of Fame honoree.

==Fresno State== Berg was born in Whittier, California and raised in nearby Santa Fe Springs, graduating from Santa Fe High School in 1993.<ref name="Fresno State player">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991001222441/http://www.fresnostatesoftball.com/team98/Berg_L.html|archive-date=1999-10-01|title=Laura Berg|url=http://www.fresnostatesoftball.com:80/team98/Berg_L.html|publisher=Fresno State|access-date=June 18, 2018|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name=CSUF>{{cite web |url=http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/berg_laura00.html |title=Laura Berg, Assistant Coach |work=Fresno State Bulldogs |publisher=California State University, Fresno |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080824123105/http://gobulldogs.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/berg_laura00.html |archive-date=2008-08-24 |access-date=April 9, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nfca.org/index.php/awards/awards-history/4158-1994-di-all-american-teams- |title=1994 DI All American Teams |author= |publisher=Nfca.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=400019&division=400019400012&school=96&event=400547 |title=1994 Women's Division I Softball |publisher=Ncaa.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=400019&division=400019400012&school=96&event=400546 |title=1994 Women's Division I Softball |publisher=Ncaa.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nfca.org/index.php/awards/awards-history/3932-1995-di-all-american-teams- |title=1995 DI All American Teams |author= |publisher=Nfca.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nfca.org/index.php/awards/awards-history/3906-1997-di-all-american-teams- |title=1997 DI All American Teams |author= |publisher=Nfca.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/archives/softball/d1/1997/580172.pdf |title=16th Annual NCAA |publisher=Web1.ncaa.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/archives/softball/d1/1997/580186.pdf |title=1997 Women's Series |publisher=Web1.ncaa.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref>

For her senior campaign, Berg was named 1998 First Team All-American for a final time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nfca.org/index.php/awards/awards-history/3893-1998-di-all-american-teams- |title=1998 DI All American Teams |author= |publisher=Nfca.org |access-date=4 November 2014 |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104123540/https://nfca.org/index.php/awards/awards-history/3893-1998-di-all-american-teams- |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=400023&division=400023400012&school=96&event=400805 |title=1998 Women's Division I Softball |publisher=Ncaa.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> They mercy ruled Michigan Wolverines before losing to the Washington Huskies in the semifinals on May 24.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=400023&division=400023400012&school=96&event=400796 |title=1998 Women's Division I Softball |publisher=Ncaa.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/ncaa/event.do?championship=400023&division=400023400012&school=96&event=400792 |title=1998 Women's Division I Softball |publisher=Ncaa.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> For the tournament, Berg hit .470 (8/17) with 2 RBIs to be named All-Tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/softball_wcws_rb/2020/01-General.pdf |title=Division I Softball Championship Results |publisher=Fs.ncaa.org |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref>

Berg would graduate as the school career record holder in hits, triples, runs and stolen bases.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gobulldogs.com/documents/2018/1/31/2018_Media_Guide.pdf |title=2018 Media Guide |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref><ref name=CSUF /> She also was tops in conference career hits, triples, runs, at-bats as well as the third best average all-time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wacsports.com/sports/sball/2020-21/files/Records21.pdf |title=WAC 2021 Softball Record Book |access-date=30 January 2021 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Her NCAA career puts her second in hits and at-bats all-time for a career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/SB_Records/2021/D1.pdf |title=Division I Softball Records |publisher=Fs.ncaa.org |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="CSUF" /> Berg redshirted at Fresno State in 1996, the year that she won her first Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.<ref name="CSUF" /> In 1998, she won her second gold medal at the world championships.<ref name="USOC" /> At the 1999 Pan American Games Berg performed well in the gold medal effort, batting .375 for the tournament with 15 hits.<ref name="USOC" /> In the 2000 Summer Olympics Berg drove in the winning run in the 8th inning of the gold medal game.<ref name="CSUF" />

From 2000 to 2003 she participated at tournaments with the national team.<ref name="CSUF" /> She added gold medals at the 2002 World Championships and 2003 Pan American Games to her resume, batting .471 in the Pan-Americans.<ref name="USOC" /> In the 2004 Athens Olympics she started eight of the nine games, batting .368, and held a perfect fielding average.<ref name="USOC" /> In the gold medal game on August 23, Berg had a hit in the eventual win over Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usasoftball.com/info.asp?uid=1687 |title=USA Softball – Features, Events, Results – Team USA |work=Team USA |access-date=4 November 2014 |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208153257/http://www.usasoftball.com/info.asp?uid=1687 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2006 Berg won her fourth consecutive World Championship in Beijing.<ref name="USOC" /> Berg's four World Championship appearances is a record for the event.<ref name="USOC" />

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.<ref name="USOC" /> At the 2008 Summer Olympics, she captured a silver medal with the Team USA,<ref name="USOC" /> the only time in Olympic history the United States did not win the gold medal.<ref name="medal">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/SOF/womens-softball.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040553/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/SOF/womens-softball.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |title=Softball Women's Softball Medalists |access-date=March 26, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usasoftball.com/events.asp?uid=4112 |title=USA Softball – Features, Events, Results – Team USA |work=Team USA |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref>

==Coaching== Berg joined the staff at the Oregon State Beavers program in 2011. In 2012, she helped coach them to a regional appearance.<ref name="osubeavers.com">[http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/berg_laura00.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501072301/http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/berg_laura00.html|date=May 1, 2012}}</ref>

She was named Oregon State's head coach on August 27, 2012.<ref name="osubeavers.com"/>

==Personal life== Berg was an assistant coach at Fresno State from 2000–2003, as she continued to participate with Team USA. She returned to her alma mater coaching staff for 2005 and 2006 seasons.<ref name="CSUF" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usasoftball.com/news.asp?uid=6994 |title=USA Softball – Features, Events, Results – Team USA |work=Team USA |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref>

In 2006, Berg was named to 25th Anniversary WCWS Team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nfca.org/index.php/front-page-news/2627-ncaa-25th-anniversary-team-to-be-honored-monday-at-wcws |title=NCAA 25th Anniversary Team to be Honored Monday at WCWS |publisher=Nfca.org |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref> In 2012, she along with her 2004 Team USA teammates were named to the Olympics Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/071612aaa.html |title=Berg Inducted into U.S. Olympic HOF |publisher=Gobuldogs.com |access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref>

==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)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees|title=Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame {{!}} Home|website=Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame {{!}} Home|access-date=2017-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731195939/https://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees|archive-date=2017-07-31|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Statistics==

===Fresno State Bulldogs=== thumb|Berg attempting to catch a ball during practice. {| class="wikitable" |- align=center | '''YEAR''' | G | AB | R | H | BA | RBI | HR | 3B | 2B | TB | SLG | BB | SO | SB | SBA |- align=center | '''1994''' | 65 | 238 | 42 | 83 | .348 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 103 | .433% | 4 | 8 | 5 | 6 |- align=center | '''1995''' | 69 | 238 | 62 | 101 | .424 | 31 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 139 | .584% | 10 | 3 | 11 | 13 |- align=center | '''1997''' | 69 | 245 | 69 | 104 | .424 | 34 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 140 | .571% | 5 | 2 | 7 | 8 |- align=center | '''1998''' | 63 | 236 | 72 | 108 | .457 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 118 | .500% | 2 | 4 | 16 | 17 |- align=center | '''TOTALS''' | '''266''' | '''957''' | '''245''' | '''396''' | '''.414''' | '''101''' | '''6''' | '''25''' | '''36''' | '''500''' | '''.522%''' | '''21''' | '''17''' | '''39''' | '''44''' |}

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

==Head coaching record== {{CBB yearly record start | type = coach | conference = | postseason= }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead | name =Oregon State Beavers | conference=Pac-12 Conference | startyear =2013 | endyear = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2013 | name = Oregon State | overall = 34–24 | conference = 8–16 | confstanding = 8th | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2014 | name = Oregon State | overall = 18–31 | conference = 5–17 | confstanding = 7th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2015 | name = Oregon State | overall = 26–26 | conference = 6–18 | confstanding = 8th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2016 | name = Oregon State | overall = 30–20–1 | conference = 9–14 | confstanding = 7th | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2017 | name = Oregon State | overall = 28–27 | conference = 9–15 | confstanding = T–6th | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2018 | name = Oregon State | overall = 30–28 | conference = 9–14 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = NCAA Regional }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2019 | name = Oregon State | overall = 26–19 | conference = 8–14 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2020 | name = Oregon State | overall = 17–9 | conference = 0–0 | confstanding = | postseason = Season canceled due to COVID-19 }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2021 | name = Oregon State | overall = 20–26 | conference = 7–17 | confstanding = 7th | postseason = }} {{CBB yearly record entry | championship = | season = 2022 | name = Oregon State | overall = 39–22 | conference = 9–15 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = Women's College World Series }} {{CBB yearly record subtotal | name = Oregon State | overall = {{winpct|268|232|1|record=y}} | confrecord = {{winpct|70|140|record=y}} }} {{CBB yearly record end | overall = {{winpct|268|232|1|record=y}} | legend = yes }}

==See also== *NCAA Division I softball career .400 batting average list

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505145439/http://www.usasoftball.com/Women/Olympics/2004OlympicGames/Bios/berg.html |title=Laura Berg at USA Softball |date=mdy}} * {{Team USA|new_id=laura-berg-912426|old_id=BE/Laura-Berg|archive=20221004033231}} * {{Olympics.com}} * {{Olympedia}}

{{1998 Fresno State Bulldogs softball navbox}} {{United States softball roster 2008 Summer Olympics}} {{United States softball roster 2020 Summer Olympics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Laura}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:American softball players Category:Softball players from California Category:American softball coaches Category:Fresno State Bulldogs softball players Category:Olympic softball players for the United States Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in softball Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in softball Category:Softball coaches from California Category:Oregon State Beavers softball coaches Category:Softball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:Softball players at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Softball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Softball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Fresno State Bulldogs softball coaches Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:People from Santa Fe Springs, California Category:Sportspeople from Whittier, California Category:United States women's national softball team coaches Category:Softball players at the 1999 Pan American Games Category:Softball players at the 2003 Pan American Games Category:Softball players at the 2007 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 1999 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in softball Category:Santa Fe High School (California) alumni