An MBA student at Western Governors University, Lori Manning previously served as executive director of ZES Educational Services and has over 13 years of experience in a variety of roles in the education sector. Lori Manning holds both a BA and a BS from Oklahoma Baptist University and was named the school's Female Athlete of the Year in 1995 for her success as a softball player.
Softball was recently reinstated as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee and will be part of the 2020 Tokyo Games after a 12-year absence. In the four Olympics in which the sport was previously contested, the United States won three gold medals and one silver. Below are three players who contributed significantly to the team's success.
1. Jennie Finch - An alumna of the University of Arizona, Finch was part of the 2004 and 2008 United States Olympic Team. The three-time All-American pitcher posted a 2-0 win-loss record during the 2004 Olympics and struck out 13 batters in eight innings, while allowing only one hit.
2. Laura Berg - A native of Santa Fe Springs, California, Berg represented the United States in all four Olympics in which softball was contested and scored a combined 10 runs. She was also a three-time Pan American Games gold medalist and a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-American during her career at Fresno State.
3. Lisa Fernandez - An alumna of UCLA, Fernandez was part of the gold-medal-winning teams in 1996, 2000, and 2004. In 2000, as a pitcher, she set an Olympic record by achieving 25 strikeouts against Australia. Four years later, as a hitter, she established a new Olympic record with a batting average of .545.
Softball was recently reinstated as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee and will be part of the 2020 Tokyo Games after a 12-year absence. In the four Olympics in which the sport was previously contested, the United States won three gold medals and one silver. Below are three players who contributed significantly to the team's success.
1. Jennie Finch - An alumna of the University of Arizona, Finch was part of the 2004 and 2008 United States Olympic Team. The three-time All-American pitcher posted a 2-0 win-loss record during the 2004 Olympics and struck out 13 batters in eight innings, while allowing only one hit.
2. Laura Berg - A native of Santa Fe Springs, California, Berg represented the United States in all four Olympics in which softball was contested and scored a combined 10 runs. She was also a three-time Pan American Games gold medalist and a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-American during her career at Fresno State.
3. Lisa Fernandez - An alumna of UCLA, Fernandez was part of the gold-medal-winning teams in 1996, 2000, and 2004. In 2000, as a pitcher, she set an Olympic record by achieving 25 strikeouts against Australia. Four years later, as a hitter, she established a new Olympic record with a batting average of .545.
