Kolby Branch hit 50 home runs during his three collegiate seasons at Georgia, but his last one might end up being his most special.
Sure, it didn’t change the outcome of Wednesday night’s Men’s College World Series game in Omaha, Neb., where the Bulldogs’ season came to an end with an 11-4 loss to Oklahoma. But given the circumstances, it was one to remember.
Branch, Georgia’s starting shortstop, led off the bottom of the ninth with his school trailing by eight runs and needing two straight wins to advance. He jumped on a 2-2 pitch for a no-doubt home run to left-center field that traveled an estimated 401 feet.
Not only did Branch bring an excellent college career to a close, but he did it in front of his younger brother, Kyle -- Oklahoma’s second baseman. Even though it was his squad giving up the homer (which proved not to matter, as the Sooners advanced to face North Carolina in the MCWS championship series), Kyle lit up when he saw Kolby’s dinger soaring out of the yard. The two even exchanged a high-five as Kolby rounded second base.
And of course, in the stands, the two brothers’ parents, Kari and Rusty, were overcome by emotion. They got to see Kolby end his college career in the best possible way, while Kyle and his team continued on to play for a national title. Does it get any better than that?