By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

Rafael Neda joined the Hays Larks last Tuesday after he missed the first half of the season with an injured finger. Everyday, the Larks coaches asked how close Neda was to game-ready.

After Sunday's batting practice, Neda came to Larks' manager Frank Leo.

"Coach, I am ready," he said.

Neda started at designated hitter and batted sixth in the Larks' 7-1 win over El Dorado that gave Hays its fifth straight victory. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI double that keyed a two-run sixth and also lined out sharply to shortstop in his first at-bat.

"Coming back, playing well again, it's pretty exciting," Neda said. "Finger didn't bother me at all. No blisters, nothing at all."

A healthy Neda provides the Larks with a third catcher along with Eric Roof and Joe Huwer and an accomplished bat.

Neda, University of New Mexico's catcher in the spring, earned the Mountain West Conference freshman of the year honor.

His .323 average, .530 slugging percentage and 45 RBIs earned him a spot on four freshman All-American honors, including first team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

"It was pretty good, but I worked so hard in the off-season," he said.

In the last series of the season against Texas Christian on May 24, Neda hurt his finger. He had to have a pin placed in the finger and join the Larks until last Tuesday.

"A pitcher threw a ball and I tried to catch it and I caught it wrong and on the tip of the glove," he said.

He started to take batting practice and watched five games. Before Saturday's doubleheader, Neda was almost set to play.

"(Saturday), he says, I am getting close, I think Sunday might be the day, today he felt pretty good so let's give it a shot," Leo said.

Neda doubled down the left field line in the sixth for his first hit and RBI in six weeks.

"It was kind of different," Neda said of playing.

He likely will DH the next few games and could catch next weekend when Hays resumes league play in Liberal.

Roof to play all nine?

The Larks might employ a unique defensive alignment in its 7 p.m. game against Salina tonight at Larks Park. Roof, the starting catcher, could play all nine positions for the first time in the 28-year Frank Leo era.

Roof approached Leo after the Larks played Salina on June 24. Leo said Monday was a possibility.

Roof, from Michigan State, has already played catcher, third base, second, left and first this summer. His dad, Gene Roof, a former pro who is now a Detroit Tigers coach, played all nine once in the minors.

Only three Major Leaguers, Cesar Tovar, Bert Campeneris and Scott Sheldon, have done it.

"I have always wanted to do it since high school, I talked to my high school coach, he wouldn't let me do to it because he wouldn't let me catch," Roof said Friday night.

Roof, though, converted to catcher a year ago and started behind the plate for Michigan State University. Before then, he played third base in college after he was shortstop and pitcher in high school.

"I can do it," he said.

Leo said Sunday night that he needed to talk with assistant coach Keith Harper and discuss it with Roof.

"I didn't want to distract anything from El Dorado (series) going for the sweep and big league games," Leo said. "I will talk to Eric and see how he is feeling."

Defense also strong

The Larks had a much stronger defensive showing than El Dorado in Sunday's victory. Hays committed just one error, compared to seven for El Dorado. The Broncos committed two of those on poor throws off an infield popup.

"I think our defense has been picking it up," Leo said. "We have been playing a lot better defense in this (five-game winning) stretch."

Hays made some Web Gem-esque plays, including a backhanded play up the middle by second baseman Rich Michalek. In the seventh, shortstop Mike Brownstein gathered a ground ball up the middle and flipped it backward to Michalek for an inning-ending force play at second.

First baseman Dusty Washburn made a diving stop on a ninth inning grounder, too.

"All three are top 10 plays," Leo said.

Nehls returns to the pros

Right-hander Brock Nehls has signed a contract with the Harlingen White Wings of the six-team United Baseball League in Texas.

Nehls, a Hays High grad, 2007 Lark and 2008 Opening Day Larks' starter, inked a contract with the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League earlier this summer.

Nehls, the ace for Emporia State University in the spring, went 0-1 with a 9.69 ERA in five starts for the Otters before he was released. He is the eighth player in the 28-year Leo era at Hays High to sign a professional contract.