MESA, Ariz. – Kirk Kay, a student at Southeast Junior High, has been selected to train at the Baseball Factory in Mesa this November after his performance at a camp earlier this summer.
Kay, whose primary position is pitcher but does play some first base, competed in the Under Armor Baseball Factory camp in Gillette in August. Based on the skills he showed in Gillette, Kay was one of around 35 players from around the state invited to the training and competition in Mesa.
While at camp, Kay, who played for the Torrington Tigers over the summer, will be against some stiff competition in the 14-year-old age group. He will train 8-10 hours a day, with former MLB players, pro scouts and college coaches on hand. Despite the big names that might be watching over him, Kay said he doesn’t feel that he will get nervous.
“It’s just been going out there and doing what I have been,” he said. “Nothing really changes for me, except getting better and better.”

“Baseball is probably the one thing that he doesn’t get super nervous about,” added Kay’s mother, Cathy Leth. “Baseball is fun for him. He loves it.”
The Baseball Factory has cranked out some top-notch alums. MLB players such as Francisco Lindor, Addison Russell, Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper all went through the Factory. Kay, whose favorite MLB team is the Colorado Rockies, hopes to follow in the big footsteps laid before him.
“Kirk has been into baseball ever since he was a kid,” Kay’s father, Scott Leth, said. “He has always enjoyed it. It has been a dream of his for the past few years to go on and play professionally.”
Between now and the Baseball Factory, which is slated for Nov. 9-12, Kay is set to play football for Southeast Junior High. Despite playing other sports, he is still looking forward to the camp. In the meantime, he will be fundraising to help offset the expenses of the camp. He is also attending a baseball camp over Christmas break at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
Although Kay is the only local player to attend the Baseball Factory, he hopes it will help the Tigers for years to come. Not only is he going to pick up on the skills for himself, but he plans to pass along tips and tricks to his teammates next summer.
“I hope to help them so they can do what I learned there as well,” Kay said.