Cedar Grove baseball player Xavier Avery, 17, produces positive results each at-bat but his torrid hitting has not kept his team from posting a losing record.

With most baseball teams in DeKalb County starting their regional schedules, Avery is going into the Saints' game against Columbia on March 30 with 17 hits, 13 runs, 12 RBI, one homerun, five doubles and a slugging percentage above .680 in 25 at-bats.

The junior, who was one of few bright spots the Saints (5-7) had during their 10-2 loss to the Southwest DeKalb Panthers on March 22, went 2-for-2 for two singles and an RBI.

Avery leads a contingent of South DeKalb batters who are sitting atop the DeKalb batting rankings. Nine of the county's top 10 batters attend South DeKalb schools.

Following Avery in batting statistics are McNair senior Fonterrian Ingram with a .667 slugging percentage; and Dunwoody senior Dominik Almanzar, the lone North DeKalb batter, is third in batting percentage.

Rounding out the top 10 are Columbia junior Chris Holloway; Redan senior Kelvin Clark; Lithonia sophomore Brandon Bridges; Miller Grove sophomore Rondall Oliver; Stone Mountain senior Derek Cooper; Towers senior Terrence Peeples and Tucker junior Dadynoel Lorenzo.

Saints coach Jarrett Harper said Avery's success at the plate is due simply to his hard work.

"His work ethic, he out-works everybody," said Harper. "He plays baseball all summer, he's got a hitting coach, he does all the small things to make him exceptional."

Harper said when opposing pitchers put the ball across the plate, they do so at their own risk.

"If they put it out there for him he is going to hit it and hit it hard," he said.

Avery, who also plays running back for Cedar Grove's football team, said his offensive success is due to concentrating on the pitch and staying patient and disciplined in the batter's box, waiting for the right pitch to come.

"I know I'm a good hitter and nobody can strike me out," he said.

Avery began playing baseball in recreation leagues at Gresham Park in Decatur when he was 7 just to have fun and to satisfy his competitive urges.

When he turned 15, he began to learn more about the sport and tweaked his fledgling baseball skills by playing in the East Cobb Baseball Complex's summer league.

The Marietta-based baseball program is recognized nationally as one of the premier youth baseball operations in the country.

Equipped with seven baseball fields, the league has 66 teams for youth ages 8 to 18.

Avery first donned cap and glove for the East Cobb Astros' 15-year-old team two years ago. This past summer, he played for the Astros' 17-year-old team.

Every Sunday he travels up to the facility for batting practice.

"Playing there gets me exposure [to different college teams] and helps me learn the game," said Avery, who has programs like Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Georgia and Duke seeking his baseball services.

Kentucky and Virginia Tech are also gunning after him for football.

Avery noted that his offensive role changes when playing for the Astros.

"I'm more of a power hitter [at Cedar Grove]," he said. "In East Cobb, I hit leadoff or second because I use my speed."

Avery's speed comes into play whenever he's on base. In the game against Southwest DeKalb, he stole four bases. He has already stolen 28 bases with seven more games to play. Last season, he stole 29 bases, 10 behind the county leader, Antonio Scott of Avondale.

Avery said the same speed that helped him rush for 1,159 yards in football last fall helps him steal bases.

"[Coach Harper] gives me the OK to steal because I know how to steal," he said. "Pitchers and catchers in this league really don't have a good enough arm to throw me out."

Harper said Avery is a leader.

"He is an exceptional player," he said. "He makes everybody else step their game up."