Throwback Thursday: On Camera, An Emotional Ciara Briggs Realizes Her LSU Signing (Fall 2018) is “Just Weeks Away”

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This week, freshman Ciara Briggs of LSU and her senior All-World teammate Aliyah Andrews received recognition for their strong performances last week from the SEC… here’s part of what was released on Tuesday by the LSU Sports Information Department:

LSU softball players Aliyah Andrews and second year freshman Ciara Briggs were named weekly award winners Tuesday as announced by the Southeastern Conference.

Andrews, a senior centerfielder from Oldsmar, Florida, was named the SEC Player of the Week, while Briggs, an outfielder from Yorba Linda, California was named co-Newcomer of the Week with Sara Mosley of Georgia.

Andrews had an outstanding week, hitting .625 after going 10-for-16 at the plate with five runs scored and four runs driven in. She also added five stolen bases to her rising career total. Andrews helped LSU to the double header sweep in the final two games of the series on Sunday, going 3-for-4 in the opener (a 4-2 LSU win) and 4-for-5 in the second game which LSU captured, 12-5.

LSU was 3-1 on the week also getting an early week win over Louisiana Tech.

Briggs went 5-for-12 (.417 average) in the four games, including a 3-for-4 game in the finale of the Missouri series in one of her best games of the season against the No. 19 team in the college polls. Briggs also drove in two runs in that contest. She had hits in three-of-the-four games on the week.

Briggs’ two-RBI single in that finale against Missouri in the bottom of the fifth inning was a game-changing hit. The single to left field game LSU a 6-5 lead in the game and pushed LSU forward to what would be a 12-5 win.

It’s great to see Ciara having a strong season as she was an amazing talent–and person too–when we covered her back in her pre-college days.

The talented outfielder was a PGF All-American and a two-time Extra Inning Softball High School All-American (Outfielder)–here’s what we wrote about her in 2019:

Sr. Ciara Briggs, Orange Lutheran (Orange) CA
Ciara repeats as a 1^st Team Extra Inning Softball All-American after she was named as the Orange County Register’s Player of the Year. She hit .545, scored 41 runs and played much of the season with separations to both shoulders. She has signed with LSU.

Ciara was also a Top 5-ranked player in our 2019 Extra Elite 100 rankings when they were released in October of 2018. Here’s her write-up:

5—Ciara Briggs, OF, So Cal Athletics – Richardson (LSU)
Ciara has played for Bruce Richardson’s So Cal A’s program for four years–one at 14U and three at 18U–and she has continued to get better each year as a 5-tool player who is a multi-dimensional player that one coach said “I would definitely pay to watch play.” She has a great combination of speed and power on both sides of the ball and she is fearless in laying out for a ball headed over the fence or in front of her for a single. Ciara sees the ball well off the bat and takes great angles to, more often than not, make the sensational player. Offensively, she has great instincts to take the extra base and, says long-time coach Doug Myers: “The bottom line is Ciara wins you games.” Her high school coach, Jenny Miklos at Orange Lutheran (Orange, California) said: She is the most competitive girl I have ever coached and is constantly pushing herself to improve which in turn pushes her teammates to work harder as well.” Invited to the USA Jr. National Team tryout this winter, Ciara earned 1st Team All-American honors by Extra Inning Softball and MaxPreps as well as All-State by CalHiSports after she led the Lancers to a 26-5 record by hitting .490 with a .570 on-base percentage as a lefty slapper who also drove in 30 runs and scored 45 herself. As a top-notch centerfielder, she didn’t make an error in 31 games. Says Bruce Richardson, “Ciara is one of the best players I’ve ever coached and I think she has the best instincts of anyone in her class.”

Today, the So Cal native is third on her SEC team in batting with a .318 batting average and third in runs scored with 18 and hits with 32. Ciara has started all 37 games this year for the Tigers and is tied with Andrews for the team lead in triples with three. She’s also 8-for-8 in steals.

I’ve shot thousands of video interviews, but I can’t think of too many more that I’ve loved as much as the clip with Ciara posted below.

It is truthful, real and powerful as she expresses her sincere appreciation for getting to realize her childhood dream of playing college softball and also for her parents who helped her realize that goal.

Check it out below and you’ll see what I mean!

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball

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Video: An Emotional Ciara Briggs Realizes Her LSU Signing is “Just Weeks Away”

Originally published October 9, 2018

As we gear up for our extensive 2019 Extra Elite 100 coverage, we publish one of our favorite interviews in recent memory!

If this doesn’t get you “in the feels” at the 2:24 mark, then you need to check your pulse!

If you love seeing athletes appreciate realizing their dreams, then you’ll want to check out our video clip with one of the top players in the country, outfielder Ciara Briggs who plays for the So Cal Athletics – Richardson team and will sign with LSU in November.

We caught up with Ciara at the PGF Shootout over the weekend right after she make one of her signature standout defensive plays, this one being a horizontal diving catch to make an out.

Below you’ll see Ciara talk about her skills and then, suddenly and very touchingly, become overcome with emotion as she realizes that her dream of signing with LSU is just weeks away.

And she comments on having her parents, Ken and Roseann Briggs (who are standing just right off-camera) helping as assistants on the always competitive 18U So Cal A’s club team which has never finished lower than 7th at PGF Nationals… we’ll have an interview with the parents soon!

Til then, enjoy a close-up of this future collegiate star…