June 20, 2005

FRESNO, Calif. - Two former Fresno State Bulldog softball All-Americans have been named to the 2005 USA Women's National Softball Team in Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) and Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.).

Announced this afternoon by the Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, and USA Softball, the selection of the 2005 National Team is an 18-member roster that will compete in various events this summer.

Up first is an exhibition game against Australia, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist and two-time Olympic bronze medalist, on Tue., July 12, at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, Calif. The USA National Team will then head to Oklahoma City to play in the inaugural World Cup of Softball at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, July 14-18. Finally, on July 26, the national team will travel to Yokohama, Japan, to defend its title at the Japan Cup.

Berg has extensive experience on the international level. With three Olympic softball gold medals (2004, 2000, 1996), she also has won gold at three International Softball Federation Women's World Championships (2002, 1998, '96) as well as two at the Pan American Games (2003, 1999). In addition, she was a member of the 2003 USA National Team that won the 2003 Japan Cup, the 2003 and '02 U.S. Cups and the 2002 and 1999 Canada Cups. At the Olympic level, Berg had the game-winning hit against Japan to lift the United States to a 2-1, 8 inning victory and gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. At the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga., Berg scored the first run in the gold medal game as the USA went on to defeat China, 3-1.

Southern, who made her USA National Team debut two weeks ago at the 2005 International Sports Invitational, is on her first USA Women's National Softball Team. Having pitched for the USA Elite Team in 2002 and 2003, she helped the elite squad to a gold medal at the 10th Canada Cup in 2003. In the circle she defeated USA, 1-0, on a four-hitter and China, 7-0, on a one-hitter. At the Canada Cup, Southern went 3-0 with three shutouts in four starts. As the only elite pitcher to no allow an earned run, she pitched 8.0 scoreless innings in the championship game against Australia and came away with a no-decision. Touring with the USA Elite Team in 2003, she finished with a 5-0 record with two shutouts and two combined shutouts while striking out 37 for a team-best 0.17 ERA as the squad went 16-1 overall.

To follow the USA National Team as well as view updated statistics and photos from the summer events, visit www.usasoftball.com.