BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com Former Hoisington Cardinal softball players Jordyn Boxberger of Dodge City Community College and Kashlin Beck of McCook Community College, Neb. will end the season reunited at the 2026 NJCAA Softball World Series at Oxford, Ala. Dodge City (46-17) plays Southern Idaho (41-11) in Monday's NJCAA World Series. Ironically, Boxberger and Beck started the 2026 season in opposing dugouts when Dodge City played McCook in their Feb. 5 season opener. Starting pitcher Boxberger earned personal bragging rights when Beck was hitless in four at-bats. "To meet up again with Kashlin at the end is special," Boxberger said. "When we both made it to the NJCAA tournament, it was fun to congratulate each other and experience this at the same time. Kashlin is doing awesome at McCook, which is so great to see. She deserves it." Boxberger is a pitcher/utility player who has played seven of nine defensive positions during her two seasons. Boxberger (9-6, 3.35 ERA) struck out 49 batters in 872/3 innings. "It's great to see your high school players do well in college," said Hoisington softball coach Tim Boxberger, Jordyn's father. "They were both great high school players. Seeing them succeed at the next level is not surprising. This makes you feel like we 're doing things right in our program." Boxberger's Dodge City Conquisators upset Hutchinson 4-0 and Butler County 3-2 and 4-2 to qualify for the 2026 World Series. "Our pitchers stepped up and shut them down at the best possible times," Boxberger said. "We knew that if we played together and believed in one another that we would be able to beat anyone. Our coaches that prepared us for these games." Jordyn Boxberger believed the Conquistadors played their best softball at the qualifying tournament. "There was some rough moments. It took us time to feel comfortable together," she said. "Towards the end of the season, we played like the best team in the league. That was a great time to play our best softball." Softball, much like life, has its ups and downs. She's batting .273 with 36 RBI in 143 at-bats after hitting .411 as a freshman. Boxberger is Dodge City's most versatile defensive player, which creates challenges playing multiple infield and outfield spots. "For me personally at the plate, I’ve been through some tough moments, especially towards the end," she said. "I do whatever it takes to help my team, whether that’s a big hit, bunt, sac fly, or stolen base. Our offense has broken multiple school records." Dodge City hasn't qualified for the NJCAA Tournament in 24 years. "It’s been a super fun run, an amazing experience," Boxberger said. "I’m excited to see how it plays out. Crazy things could happen for this team. It’s been a super fun run, an amazing experience. My team and I are having a blast." Claflin's Kashlin Beck is headed to the NJCAA Division I College World Series with McCook, Neb. after the Lady Indians captured the Region 9 Tournament title with a 5-3 win over Northeastern, Colo. Kashlin Beck is the daughter of Jeff Beck and Stacey Prosser Beck. McCook will compete in the 20-team NJCAA College World Series May 25-30 at Oxford, Ala. Beck is hitting .369 with 52 hits, 17 home runs, 60 RBIs and a .801 slugging percentage in 49 games. Beck is the team leader in homers and second in RBIs while helping power one of the nation’s top junior college offenses. In the regional championship game, Beck contributed with a sacrifice bunt in the sixth inning that helped set up an important insurance run. Audrey Reeves reached second on the bunt before eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lacyn Keller to give MCC a 5-3 lead. McCook pitcher Paige Warren (28-2) struck out seven batters in 3.2 innings of relief work. Josie Wright and Lyndsay Keogh each drove in two runs in the title game. McCook (52-7) beat Western Nebraska 4-3, Southeast, Neb. 6-3 and Northeastern, Colo. 5-3 to secure its second straight trip to the national tournament in Oxford, Alabama. The Lady Indians also set a new school record for combined regular-season and postseason wins while finishing 28-1 at home. Last season, MCC advanced to the final eight of the national tournament during the program’s first-ever World Series appearance. NJCAA DIV. 1 WORLD SERIES PLAY-IN GAMES 5-25 G1, 11 a.m.--McCook, Neb. (52-7) vs San Jacinto, Texas (41-24) G2, 11 a.m.--Dodge City (46-17) vs Southern Idaho (41-11) G3, 1:15--Wabash Valley, Ill. vs Gaston College G4, 1:15--Arizona Western vs Iowa Western BRACKET GAMES 5-25 G5, 3:30--Eastern Florida vs Trinity Valley, Texas G6, 3:30--Volunteer State, Tenn. vs Seminole, Okla. G7, 5:45--Santa Fe, N.M. vs Odessa, Texs G8, 5:45--McLennan, Texas vs Paris, Texas BRACKET GAMES 5-26 G9, 11 a.m.--Temple, Texas vs Dodge City/Southern Idaho winner G10, 11 a.m.--Florida Southwestern (54-4) vs McCook/San Jacinto winner G11, 1:15--Northwest Florida State (55-5) vs Arizona Western/Iowa Western winner G12, 1:15--NE Alabama vs Wabash Valley, Ill./Gaston College winner G13, 3:30--Losers G3, G9 G14, 3:30--Losers G4, G10 G15, 5:45--Losers G1, G11 G16, 5:45--Losers G2, G12