Sports

Oklahoma Baseball Player Celebrated Opposing Team’s Home Run For The Coolest Reason

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Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Brothers Kolby and Kyle Branch high-five at the College World Series.


The Oklahoma baseball team beat Georgia at the College World Series to advance to the national championship series. That matchup pit brothers Kolby Branch and Kyle Branch against one another in Omaha.

Kyle got the better of his sibling on the scoreboard, but he was able to share an awesome moment with his brother in his final at-bat. Kolby smacked a solo home run in his last plate appearance with the Bulldogs.

It’s not often you see a player celebrate an opposing team’s success, but in this case, it was warranted.

Kolby and Kyle Branch made history.

The siblings are the first set of brothers to compete against one another at the College World Series. They squared off twice in Omaha on the sport’s biggest stage.

Oklahoma beat Georgia on Monday, 4-3. The Bulldogs battled back through the loser’s bracket to force a rematch. Their season would end at the hands of the Sooners on Wednesday.

Oklahoma won the game 11-4. It will play for a title in the finals against North Carolina.

The second matchup wasn’t particularly close, but it was able to provide some drama in the ninth inning. With his team trailing 11-3, Kolby Branch hit a solo homer.

A senior, it represented his final collegiate at-bat. He went out in the best possible way. His brother, Kyle, offered congratulations as he rounded the basepath.

Oklahoma baseball star opens up on awesome moment.

After winning the first matchup, Kyle Branch reflected on the family rivalry.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “I don’t know how to describe it. Just getting to see him play and do his thing… I’ll remember this night forever.”

At that time, a rematch wasn’t guaranteed. Georgia’s win over Texas on Tuesday set up the second showdown. Oklahoma won, but Kolby Branch went out with a bang.

After the game, he spoke on the home run and ensuing celebration.

“Unbelievable,” Branch said. “You can’t script it any better. You have emotions flowing through you, because it’s your last (at-bat)… I saw Kyle, and he was out there smiling. It’s a good moment, [I] high-fived him, which is kind of cool, and then I wished him luck in the National Championship.”

Kolby Branch was emotional in that response, fighting back tears in the press conference. A few moments prior, the two were able to meet on the infield.

While his season and career are now over, Kolby will have an opportunity stay in Omaha with his parents to root on his brother.

It wouldn’t be the first time he’s been seen in the stands supporting Oklahoma this postseason. Branch and teammate Tre Phelps went down to Atlanta in the super regionals to watch the Sooners knock off Georgia Tech.

Umpires gave Branch’s parents the lineup card from Kolby’s final game. It’s a moment they’ll be able to cherish forever.

Now, the attention turns to the Tar Heels for Kyle Branch and his family. The Sooners will hope to take home their first national championship since 1994.