Two-Sport Star Xaviir Briggs Finding His Groove on the Baseball Field

For a second season now, a single crack of his bat has awakened Berkmar's Xaviir Briggs.

The center fielder never thought much of his baseball skill until a midseason-game last year against Parkview, when his grand slam forced extra innings and the Patriots nearly beat their counterparts from Lilburn.

"That Parkview game was a season-changer," Briggs believes still. "Everything was different for the whole second half of the season after that."

Likewise, last Saturday, Briggs' three-run homer against Tucker jolted the Patriots from a five-game losing streak and to a 14-4 win in five innings. Moreover, it jolted the senior into believing baseball might overshadow football in his dual scholarship next season at Tuskegee.

"That Tucker game was this year's season-changer," he said. "So far [this season], I'm proudest of that Tucker game. Everything seems different now, too."

Last season, though the Patriots finished 6-18 and again failed to make the state playoffs, Briggs led the way with a .416 batting average, .597 slugging percentage and .471 on-base percentage. His 46 total bases led the Patriots, and his 21 RBI tied for the team lead. His two triples were tops, too, and he was one of only three Berkmar players to hit a home run.

Patriots coach Will Azbell attributed Briggs' offense to being more patient and not swinging for the fences.

"He was trying to hit every ball he saw out of the ballpark," Azbell said of last season. "What we really preached to him last year was hitting the ball up the middle. And once he started doing that, he really wound up with a good year."

So far this season, as the Patriots approached Wednesday's game at Centennial, Briggs had Berkmar's only homer and has tied two teammates with a team-high four doubles, despite a team-worst eight strikeouts.

"The last couple games, he's hit pretty well, so his average has shot up," Azbell said of Briggs' average catapulting from .214 to .333 in short order. "He was struggling some with the bat, but he might have turned that around."

That Tucker game was key for Briggs, who batted 3-for-4. Perhaps most importantly, though, he felt fluid in the batter's box.

"I made one change in my swing, and it's been working," Briggs said of positioning his upper body differently when batting. "Coach told me not to stride and to keep my front shoulder in longer, and it's been working. After Tucker, I feel like I'm back [offensively]."

Briggs acknowledged he's never had textbook form offensively, nor defensively. He agreed with Azbell calling his talent "raw" and that others' form might be prettier.

"Xaviir does a lot on basic athletic ability," the coach said. "He could learn more technique and fundamentals, but what he lacks in that, he makes up for in athleticism.

"If he doesn't get a good jump on the ball, he still can run it down."

Likewise, athleticism has made up for Briggs' less-than-perfect technique in football, where the utility player has produced workman results in three seasons as well. Last fall, Briggs recalled having more than 800 yards passing, 400 rushing and 200 receiving, in addition to intercepting two passes. He didn't finish among county leaders in any category, but did a little of most everything for the Patriots (3-7).

Briggs always knew he had football skill, he's finally believing in his baseball talent. In fact, though he's played both sports since age 4, he's begun thinking his longevity on the diamond might exceed that on the gridiron.

"I didn't start taking baseball really seriously until last year," he said. "I've been playing both sports my whole life, and I used to consider football my outlet.

"Now," he added, "I think I see myself going more toward baseball."