Monroe Sago saw a problem in his Broadmoor community. Dozens of children roamed the streets during their summer vacation, with no supervision and nothing to do.

Sago saw a solution in the Big 3 Softball League.

&uot;There were all these kids playing out in the street with nothing to do, and a big empty park right behind their houses,&uot; Sago said. &uot;Somebody just had to get them together; get them organized. Keep them off the street and out of trouble.&uot;

With help of coach Debra Johnson, a handful of devoted parents and a few donations from area businesses, Sago formed two softball teams of 20 to 25 children each. The teams had practices, games, and what equipment and uniforms Sago could beg, borrow or buy.

&uot;Some had jerseys and caps, and some didn’t,&uot; he said. &uot;We just had to do the best we could with what we had.&uot;

The teams consisted of boys and girls ages 7-13, Sago said, although younger neighborhood children participated as bat boys and girls.

More area children wanted to participate, Sago said, but there was simply not enough money to accommodate them.

&uot;It’s hard to go door to door ask ask for donations because so many groups have already done that,&uot; he said. &uot;People don’t know if you’re going to use the money for yourself or the kids.&uot;

Sago did receive donations from three area banks – Britton & Koontz First National Bank, United Mississippi Bank and AmSouth Bank, he said, and he named his league Big 3 to show his appreciation.

Wal-Mart later made a donation, he added.

Several parents helped out, as well, he said, and the children received trophies at the end of the season.

Sago said he would like to include more children in his league, and he would like to include other sports like flag-football and soccer so Broadmoor children have supervised activities year-round, he said.

&uot;I’ve got the kids,&uot; he said, &uot;I just don’t have the funds.&uot;

The more children he works with, the better his chances of making a positive difference in a child’s life, Sago said.

&uot;I’ve had some kids turn good and some kids turn bad,&uot; he said. &uot;But if you’ve got a group of kids, and the chance to save one, you’ve got to take that shot.&uot;

Sago stressed the importance of having adult supervision.

&uot;Without supervision, it’s just like turning them loose,&uot; he said. &uot;You know how boys are – somebody pushes somebody and pretty soon they’re fighting.&uot;

But interaction with adults provides a great deal more than fight prevention, Sago said.

&uot;They talk to me,&uot; he said. &uot;They come to me with problems and I try to help them out. If it’s something I can’t help them with, I send them to their parents. It’s important that they have someone to

talk to.&uot;