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BCHS’s softball standout Carrera signs with SSU
Daxne Carrera signing
Standout softball payer Daxne Carrera is headed to Savannah State to play softball and study forensic science. The Bryan County High School catcher was a key player on the Redskins’ 31-6 team that finished third in the state in Class A last fall. She’s shown with her mother, Anaxi Wells, father Luis Carrera and younger brother Daxwell. Photo by Mike Brown.

When Daxne Carrera was a freshman then Bryan County softball coach Al Butler made the decision to start her at the all-important catcher position. “She’s going to be a good one,” Butler said at the time. “I know she’s a freshman and catcher is a tough position but the way she’s played in practice and handled herself she’s earned the right to start. “It was an easy decision. She just has a presence about her.”

Butler obviously had the ability to recognize talent as Carrera went on to have an outstanding career with the Redskins. She started every game for four years and was a key component on Bryan County’s Final Four team last fall. Carrera’s efforts were rewarded last week when she signed a letter of intent to play softball at Savannah State University where she plans to major in forensic science.

Butler left after Carrera’s freshman season and was replaced by Jason Roundtree who wisely kept Carrera behind the plate, a decision which paid huge dividends.

As a junior she helped freshmen pitchers Hayden Joiner and McKenzie Mobley get off to fast starts as the Redskins went 19-7.

Then came last fall when everything fell into place as Bryan County (31-6) set a school record for wins while finishing third in the state after winning the school’s first region championship since 2011.

While not making it to the state championship game stung, Carrera looks back on the season and her career with no regrets. “From my freshman year I just kept improving every year,” Carrera said. “Coach Butler is one of the most important reasons I’m where I am today. He had faith and confidence in me. “Coach Roundtree showed the same confidence in me and helped me grow and develop as a player, too,” Carrera said. “I owe a lot to all the coaches I’ve had over the years going back to when I started playing at Hendrix Park and my travel ball coaches.” Carrera is currently in her first year of playing on the Southern Power, a travel team coached by John DeGroat who said the Power was a national travel team. He predicted by stepping up in competition Carrera will be able to take her game to a higher level by the time she enrolls at Savannah State in the fall. As a senior Carrera had an outstanding season. As the Redskins leadoff hitter she had a .367 batting average with four home runs and 18 RBI while scoring 41 runs. In her time behind the plate the Redskins were 75-38 including a 50-13 mark the last two seasons.

“Daxne is such a great athlete,” Roundtree said. “She was a quiet leader. She didn’t talk much but when she said something our players knew it was time to listen. “Hayden was an allstate pitcher for us this year (as a sophomore) and Daxne was a big reason why.” In addition to her prowess on the softball field Carrera is also known at Bryan County for being the catcher on the middle school baseball team. Not only was she the starting catcher she was also the only player to hit a home run. Carrera said she was born in Miami, Fl., but her family moved to Ellabell when she was 4 years old. She is the daughter of Luis Carrera and Anaxi Wells and has a younger brother, Daxwell, who also attends BCHS. All were present at the signing.

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