BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HOISINGTON – The Hoisington/Central Plains Cardinals learned their lessons from last year’s 3A state softball tournament. The Cardinals lost 4-2 to state champion Cheney and 8-7 to Haven in the third-place showdown.

“Last year, we learned that getting that 2-out hit at the state tournament is a key,” said Cardinal coach Tim Boxberger. “We didn’t get runs across in the semifinal. We preach get in a good hitter’s count and take a swing. We stress putting the softball in play.”

The Cardinals outscored three regional opponents 40-0 and routed Beloit 11-0 after a 1-0 victory last year.

“We’re as good a softball team as anybody,” Boxberger said. “I tell the girls to trust in themselves. We’ve shown discipline at swing at strikes. We laid off the rise pitch by Beloit’s Chloe Odle after talking about it for a year.”

The Cardinals (22-1) face Carbondale/Santa Fe Trail (19-4) in Thursday’s 3A softball opener at Manhattan. Santa Fe pitcher Kaelee Washington (13-1, 0.79 ERA) has struck out 159 batters in 79 innings. Washington (.583) and Jaycee Long (.521).

“We’ve been told the Santa Fe pitcher throws hard,” Boxberger said.

The Cardinals ended the season on a roll. The Cardinals dominated the Central Kansas League and lost to Halstead 6-5 April 22. Since that loss, the Cardinals have outscored 10 opponents 153-2.

“We’ve played really good softball down the stretch,” Boxberger said. “After that loss, everyone got locked in defensively. We’ve hit the ball all year. Everyone has played better defensively. We started making defensive plays. We’ve shown the ability to score runs and end games early.”

Catcher Kadence Urban and ace pitcher Kassidy Nixon (13-0, 1.42 ERA) have led a high-powered offense. Kashlin Beck (8 HR) has been red-hot late in the season.

“Kashlin’s hitting has been a big boost,” Boxberger said. “Anytime our bottom of the order gets going, our top of the order follows that up.”

HHS PITCHING—Kassidy Nixon 13-0, 1,42 ERA, 83K-59 IP; Jordyn Boxberger 9-1, 1.12 ERA, 43K-50 IP.

HHS HITTING—Kadence Urban, .618, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 50 R; Nixon, .507, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 43 R; Kashlin Beck, .424, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 27 R; Gracie Alyward, .403, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 38 R; Shaylah Kempke, .368, 17 RBI, 41 R; Boxberger, .339, 22 RBI, 38 R; Mollie Steiner, .338, 27 RBI, 24 R; Ava Henry, .309, 25 RBI, 15 R; Tricia Schremmer, .294, 5 RBI, 6 R; Addyson Ogle, .278, 8 RBI, 12 R.

SOFTBALL STATE TOURNAMENTS

3A STATE SOFTBALL, MANHATTAN 5-26

5 p.m.—Hoisington Central Plains 22-1 vs. Santa Fe Trail 19-4

7 p.m.—Kingman 21-2 vs. Fredonia 20-3

5 p.m.—Scott City 21-1 vs. Prairie View 19-4

7 p.m.—Council Grove 21-2 vs. Rossville 20-3

2-1A STATE SOFTBALL, PRATT 5-26

5 p.m.—Ell-Saline 23-0 vs. Pittsburg Colgan 11-12

7 p.m.—Spearville 21-2 vs. Mission Valley 20-2

5 p.m.—Troy 21-0 vs. Belle Plaine 11-8

7 p.m.—Bluestem 22-1 vs. Central Heights 14-7

4A STATE SOFTBALL, SALINA 5-26

5 p.m.—Wamego 21-1 vs. Rock Creek 16-6

7 p.m.—Andale/Garden Plain 20-2 vs. SM Miege 17-3

5 p.m.—Clearwater 21-1 vs. Clay Center 15-5 

7 p.m.—Eudora 20-2 vs. Ottawa 16-5

5A STATE SOFTBALL, WICHITA 5-26

11 a.m.—Wichita Carroll 22-0 vs. Goddard Eisenhower 16-6

1 p.m.—Valley Center 20-2 vs. Spring Hill 19-2

3 p.m.—Basehor-Linwood 22-0 vs. Topeka Seaman 17-5

5 p.m.—Newton 20-2 vs. Blue Valley Southwest 19-3

6A STATE SOFTBALL, SHAWNEE 5-26

10 a.m.—Topeka Washburn Rural 21-1 vs. Blue Valley 13-9

12:15 p.m.—Derby 19-3 vs. Gardner Edgerton 19-3

2:30 p.m.—SM North 20-1 vs. Wichita Northwest 17-5

4:45 p.m.—Topeka High 19-3 vs. Olathe North 18-4