NATCHEZ — Dan Smith knew the statistics that showed black youths had gravitated more toward basketball and football and away from baseball.

He had talked with people in the game that bemoaned the fact that many would-be talented black baseball players were not giving the sport a chance.

So he decided to do something about it.

Three years ago Smith, then an assistant baseball coach at Natchez High, started a summer league travel team made up of black players from Natchez.

When Smith became the head baseball coach at Port Gibson High School last year, he wanted to continue to give Natchez players the chance to play on the team.

So the team, named the Mississippi Jaguars, consists of players from both Port Gibson and Natchez.

“I had talked with some scouts who were talking about how black players had become more of a minority in the Major Leagues,” Smith said. “Most (black kids) are into basketball, and baseball is not their main sport. I thought the summer team was something good I could do to encourage more participation in the sport.”

The players on the team from Natchez are Javon Washington, Brian Isaac and Derrian Johnson, who played at Natchez High, Caleb Johnson, who played at Cathedral and Lawrence Green, who didn’t play high school baseball last year.

Because there are players from both cities on the team, it operates almost like two separate teams.

Smith practices with the Port Gibson players in Port Gibson while Natchez-based coaches Charles Bass, Joe Washington, Jeff Thomas and Alton Johnson work with the Natchez players.

“I didn’t want to just throw the Natchez players to the side when I went to Port Gibson,” Smith said. “I get a lot of help from the other coaches.”

Javon Washington, who is a rising sophomore, said playing on the Jaguars has really improved his game and increased his interest in baseball.

“I (play on the team) to get better and meet new people,” Washington, who is a shortstop, third baseman and pitcher, said. “He has really helped me improve and taught me all I know about pitching.”

Washington plays baseball, football and basketball for Natchez High, but said his favorite sports are baseball and football.

“I take baseball a lot more seriously since (Smith) has been coaching me,” Washington said.

The team has played in tournaments in Baton Rouge, St. Francisville and Pensacola, Fla. Among other places.

This weekend they will play a tournament at Alcorn State against teams from Jackson, Canton, Hazelhurst and Alexandria, La.

The tournament will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and conclude with the championship game Sunday evening.