WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The athletic apple isn't falling far from the tree for Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart.
Smart's son Andrew is part of the Georgia team from Oconee County seeking a place in the 2024 Little League World Series, and he played a major role Friday in keeping the team's hopes alive.
After losing their first match of the Southeast Region qualifying tournament to North Carolina on Thursday, Georgia went to the loser's bracket and faced South Carolina in a win-or-go-home game.
Andrew Smart delivered by going 2-for-3 with a homer, two runs and an RBI.
His first-inning home run to center field tied the game 1-1 at that time. Georgia was losing 4-3 in the third inning when the team's second baseman, Jake Sams, hit a triple to score Smart and Austin Peterson.
Georgia then went ahead 7-4 that inning, a lead they wouldn't relinquish (though South Carolina scratched back to make it 7-6 before Georgia tacked on one more run in the fourth to account for the final score).
There's still a long way to go for Georgia though -- with the win, they'll face the loser of a Tennesse-Virginia matchup happening at 7 p.m. on Friday.
If they can win that game, they'd have to win two more times to make it through the loser's bracket to the championship game, then win that to represent the Southeast in the Little League World Series. You can check out how the bracket breaks down here.
Georgia's next game is Saturday at 1 p.m. and it will be broadcast on ESPN+.
