University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Kolby Branch Earns USA Baseball CNT Invitation
June 24, 2026 | Baseball
ATHENS, GA.-----University of Georgia senior shortstop Kolby Branch has been invited to the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (CNT) Training Camp.
Branch, a 5-11, 202-pound native of Lucas, Texas, was a four-year starter who earned a 2026 Gold Glove for his defensive play this past season as selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods. Also, he earned a degree in Housing Management and Policy this past May.
Branch started all 67 games for the Bulldogs this past season as they finished with a 53-14 record, tied for third at the College World Series and earned a final ranking of No. 3 in the national top 25 polls. He posted a .975 fielding percentage in 277 total chance and batted .291 with 19 doubles, 20 home runs and 60 RBI. The Bulldogs won the Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles and made their first College World Series appearance since 2008.
Branch will be among the 56 collegiate players at the USA CNT Training Camp vying for a spot on the final CNT. The CNT will be competing in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taiwan from July 11-15, and that final roster will be determined after a slate of exhibition games from June 27-29 and the annual Stars versus Stripes series June 30-July 4 in North Carolina. The CNT Training camp participants will be divided into two teams for the exhibition games and Stars versus Stripes series. The final USA CNT roster will be announced on July 5.
Georgia's 2026 team featured Tre Phelps, Matt Scott and Joey Volchko who were all members of the 2024 USA Baseball College National Team, while Henry Allen was on the 2021 15U roster and Dylan Wood was a member of the gold-medal winning 2024 18U National Team.
The full 2026 Collegiate National Team schedule is as follows:
(Date; Matchup; Location; Time (subject to change)
Stars and Stripes Exhibition Slate
Team USA Stars vs. Stripes Series
World Collegiate Baseball Championship
For the most up-to-date information on the Collegiate National Team, including ticket information, visit USABaseball.com and follow @USABaseballCNT on Twitter/X and @USABaseball on Instagram.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
Branch, a 5-11, 202-pound native of Lucas, Texas, was a four-year starter who earned a 2026 Gold Glove for his defensive play this past season as selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods. Also, he earned a degree in Housing Management and Policy this past May.
Branch started all 67 games for the Bulldogs this past season as they finished with a 53-14 record, tied for third at the College World Series and earned a final ranking of No. 3 in the national top 25 polls. He posted a .975 fielding percentage in 277 total chance and batted .291 with 19 doubles, 20 home runs and 60 RBI. The Bulldogs won the Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles and made their first College World Series appearance since 2008.
Branch will be among the 56 collegiate players at the USA CNT Training Camp vying for a spot on the final CNT. The CNT will be competing in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship in Taiwan from July 11-15, and that final roster will be determined after a slate of exhibition games from June 27-29 and the annual Stars versus Stripes series June 30-July 4 in North Carolina. The CNT Training camp participants will be divided into two teams for the exhibition games and Stars versus Stripes series. The final USA CNT roster will be announced on July 5.
Georgia's 2026 team featured Tre Phelps, Matt Scott and Joey Volchko who were all members of the 2024 USA Baseball College National Team, while Henry Allen was on the 2021 15U roster and Dylan Wood was a member of the gold-medal winning 2024 18U National Team.
The full 2026 Collegiate National Team schedule is as follows:
(Date; Matchup; Location; Time (subject to change)
Stars and Stripes Exhibition Slate
- June 27; CNT Stars vs. Greeneville Flyboys; Burlington Athletic Stadium (Burlington, N.C.); 3 p.m. ET
- June 27; CNT Stripes vs. Burlington Sock Puppets; Burlington Athletic Stadium (Burlington, N.C.); 7 p.m. ET
- June 28; CNT Stars vs. Johnson City Doughboys; American Legion Post 325 Field (Danville, Va.); 1 p.m. ET
- June 28; CNT Stripes vs. Danville Otterbots; American Legion Post 325 Field (Danville, Va.); 5:30 p.m. ET
- June 29; CNT Stars vs. Appy League Select; National Training Complex (Cary, N.C.); 3 p.m. ET
- June 29; CNT Stripes vs. Appy League Select; National Training Complex (Cary, N.C.); 7 p.m. ET
Team USA Stars vs. Stripes Series
- June 30; Stars vs. Stripes; Segra Stadium (Fayetteville, N.C.); 6:35 p.m. ET
- July 1; Stars vs. Stripes; National Training Complex (Cary, N.C.); 6:35 p.m. ET
- July 2; Stars vs. Stripes; National Training Complex (Cary, N.C.); 6:35 p.m. ET
- July 3; Stars vs. Stripes; National Training Complex (Cary, N.C.); 6:00 p.m. ET
- July 4; Stars vs. Stripes; Segra Stadium (Fayetteville, N.C.); 6:35 p.m. ET
World Collegiate Baseball Championship
- July 11; USA vs. Korea (pool play); Intercontinental Stadium (Taichung City, Taiwan); 12:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. local
- July 12; Chinese Taipei vs. USA (pool play); Intercontinental Stadium (Taichung City, Taiwan); 6:30 a.m. ET/6:30 p.m. local
- July 13; Japan vs. USA (pool play); Intercontinental Stadium (Taichung City, Taiwan); 12:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. local
- July 14; WCBC semifinals; Intercontinental Stadium (Taichung City, Taiwan); 12:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. local OR 6:30 a.m. ET/6:30 p.m. local
- July 15; WCBC finals; Intercontinental Stadium (Taichung City, Taiwan); 12:30 a.m. ET/12:30 p.m. local OR 6:30 a.m. ET/6:30 p.m. local
For the most up-to-date information on the Collegiate National Team, including ticket information, visit USABaseball.com and follow @USABaseballCNT on Twitter/X and @USABaseball on Instagram.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
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