He was a strong right-handed pitcher from New Athens, Illinois who starred in the Mon-Clair League for the Waterloo Buds/Millers from 1996 to 2013. During his eighteen years in the Mon-Clair League, he won 147 games and lost only 33, setting a league record for wins. He won six ERA titles, more than any other pitcher in the history of the Mon-Clair League. In 2000, he was the Most Valuable Player on his Waterloo Buds team. In 2005, he was named MVP of the Valmeyer Tournament. He was a perennial all-star who was named to the Mon-Clair League all-star team every year. Blackwell was on teams that won seven Mon-Clair League championships, five Valmeyer Tournament championships, and twelve Monroe Division championships. He pitched three no-hitters during his Mon-Clair League career. He has coached youth teams in the Mon-Clair League for the past eight years. In 2016, Blackwell was inducted into the Mon-Clair Baseball League Hall of Fame. 

From 1996 to 1998, Blackwell played semi-pro ball for the Sauget Wizards and was named team MVP in 1998. In 1999, he signed a professional contract and pitched in the Frontier League for the River City Rascals under manager Jack Clark.

Blackwell pitched for Belleville Area College in 1996 and 1997 with a record of 20 wins and only three losses. In 1997, he was named MVP of his team. In 1998, he was a pitcher for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 1999, he pitched for Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Blackwell is a proud supporter of the Mon-Clair League which is known for developing talented players and fostering a strong sense of community. The Mon-Clair League provides a positive, supportive environment for baseball players in Southern Illinois.