It’s not the roster he had started with but manager Frank Leo feels good about the latest edition of the Hays Larks who are set to open their season Saturday night with a six o’clock doubleheader at Larks Park against the Colorado Sox.

Click below to hear manager Frank Leo’s preview of the Larks 2013 season.
Frank Leo

Leo has been busy working the phones, trying to replace several players who will not be playing this summer due to late season injuries during their college season.

After relying on a veteran pitching staff a year ago which helped them to the Jayhawk League title and a third-place finish at the NBC World Series, this year’s staff has just one player with more than two years of college experience.

The Larks do return several veterans form last season led by Aaron Cornell, who hit .316 and lead the team with 21 stolen bases. Cornell will not be with the team until his season ends at Oklahoma State. Brett Lang, who hit .312 a year ago, is also scheduled to return but will miss the first several weeks while he recovers from a thigh injury.

Zair Koeiman, who led the team in home runs a year ago, is set to return at second base. MacKenzie Handel, who hit .280 in 43 starts, also returns. Shortstop Elvin Rodriguez, who has played in Hays the last three summers, returns for at least the first part of the season.

The Larks open with a 6pm doubleheader Saturday sponsored by the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute. In connection with Hays Med, they will provide free skin cancer screenings from 5:30-8pm.

Sunday is Little League night with all area youth in uniform going onto the field with the player introductions.

The Larks begin defense of the Jayhawk League title Monday with the first of a two-game series in Liberal.