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When the Battery Creek softball team defends its Class 3A state championship next season, it will do so with a new coach at the helm.

Former Dolphins coach Chris Carr was announced Monday as the new coach at Calvary Day School in Savannah, and Battery Creek has already named Carr’s successor, hiring accomplished coach Bob Layman to head the program.

Carr spent two seasons at Battery Creek and took the Dolphins to the Class 3A Lower State championship game in 2018 before capturing the state title in 2019. He was named the state Coach of the Year this season and has a career record of 186-109-1 over 12 seasons as a head coach.

“I got a really great teaching offer (from Calvary) and I couldn’t let it pass me by,” Carr said. “It was such a hard decision, as I really wanted to keep coaching at Creek. I love that school and team.”

Layman has been a staple on the local travel softball scene for years and enjoyed a successful run as the head coach at Thomas Heyward Academy from 2010-18, leading the Rebels to the SCISA state championship series six times in nine seasons, including a state championship in 2011. He stepped down following the 2018 season but continued to coach the S.C. Badkatz travel team, which included several players from Battery Creek.

“Obviously, retirement wasn’t for me,” Layman said. “I’m honored (Athletic Director Sarah) Hayes and Principal (Chad) Cox are giving me this opportunity. Battery Creek is on the rise, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”