When it comes to promoting baseball to kids in their neighborhood, CN Railroaders in the Community Zachary and Kelly Youngblood are all about loading the bases. The couple devotes hundreds of hours each year to the Mahomet Diamond Dogs, a non-profit, volunteer-run competitive youth baseball organization in Mahomet, IL.
Zachary is a third-generation locomotive engineer who joined CN in 2003, following father Randy and grandfather Charlie, who worked out of Centralia, IL.
From January, when the team starts indoor practices, through the 50-game season that ends in July, Zachary pitches in with whatever needs doing.
Zachary Youngblood seen here with wife and fellow volunteer Kelly and son Wyatt.
“I help the coaches by running drill stations with the kids. I also set up equipment and I’ve built benches for kids to sit on,” he explains.
His spouse, Kelly, the team’s parent representative, coordinates scheduling, paperwork and volunteers.