Solving the age-old problem of "how do I properly get the perfect amount of mud on my balls", 17-year-old Cameron Kruse has gotten the attention of Science Fairs, Major League Baseball, and a local beach-side university.

Little known fact: brand new baseballs straight out of the box need to be rubbed with a certain amount of special mud to prevent the balls from slipping out of pitchers' hands. Using a brilliant combo of lasers, LEGOs, and mud, Kruse invented a colorful machine that applies a perfect, uniform amount of mud on baseballs in the fraction of the time it would take a human.

This was Kruse's first invention and even though he just won an International Science Fair, college and baseball are the only things on his short list.

As for ideas for future inventions, Kruse just shrugs.

He's more preoccupied with the notion of going to Pepperdine University in California after he graduates from home school next year.

Between that and baseball, the next invention could take a while, he said.

"I just love baseball," Kruse said. "I love hanging out at the baseball park. That's what I do. School and baseball." - The Albuquerque Trib

top photo by Mayr