FAYETTEVILLE - There's a simple reason why more blacks aren't playing youth baseball in Northwest Arkansas.

In a 2006 U.S. Census, there were only 3.1 percent of the state's blacks living in Washington County. The black population in the entire state is only 15.7 percent - with just 1.4 percent claiming Benton County as home.

"I don't think we have a lot of blacks playing baseball," said David Hudson, president of Rogers Youth League. "I don't know the numbers because that's not something we track. We don't have a lot, I know that. Probably a handful, maybe 10.

"In Rogers, I do know there are some black families in Rogers. I don't know how many of them have kids of age to play, or boys that are baseball age. I think in Rogers, the numbers are low from an availability standout."

Hudson said the Hispanic population offers more numbers and statistics bear that out. There are 13.7 percent of the state's Hispanic population living in Benton County, 12.9 percent in Washington County.

"In our region, depending on where you move in from has something to do with it," Hudson said. "It's the Hispanic population that is under represented, I think."

Jay Pounders, the chairman of the Springdale Kiwanis Executive Baseball Board, said his organization has made a concerted effort to make youth baseball available to all.

"As far as the Hispanic kids, we went to the Hispanic community and recruited over there," said Pounders, who has been associated with youth baseball in the area since 1982. "The blacks, we've got several that are playing. We don't have many, but we do have several."

Both Hudson and Pounders agree there are other factors which point to the lack of minority participation among youth-age players.

"I think ones you're seeing are more or less playing basketball and football, in our older group, especially," Pounders said. "Kids almost have to choose. You can't mix football or baseball. The football coaches won't admit to it. They say, 'Oh, we give them time.' They do not. They're practicing seven times a week, 365 days a year."

One is the specialization that many athletes face at early ages.

"Our season is normally six-to-eight weeks. We probably ... We had to push it into doubleheaders and everything else. I betcha we probably didn't play 20 days because of football and other stuff.

"They have to go 7-on-7 or basketball camps. They are doing basketball all during the summer now.

"We've got kids that take off and play football in the morning, basketball in the afternoon. Then, they'll do some kind of travel. Then they try and play baseball and they are worn out."

Hudson agreed.

"When I was growing up, you played baseball in baseball season, football in football season," Hudson said. "You know, I grew up in Oklahoma and you either played basketball or wrestled in the winter."