Five Blue Streaks to be entered into athletic Hall of Fame
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> The Saratoga Springs City School District will be inducting five individuals into its Blue Streak Athletic Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony 4:30 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 12, in the Robert Meade Teaching Auditorium at the high school.
This year’s inductees include track standout Brianne Bellon, former athlete and employee Claudia Didziulis, football and lacrosse standout Rory Pedrick, former Blue Streak, but known as the long-time athletic director at Ballston Spa and the origin of the ‘Scotties’, Bill Scott, along with two-sport star and long-time sports coach Lawrence “Toby” Youngblood.
Brianne Bellon, Class of 2010, ran cross-country for five seasons along with winter track and spring track for six seasons. She was a member of the undefeated cross-country team, which was the Suburban Council, Section 2, and NYS Federation champions for five years.
She was on seven national champion relay teams: 4xmile, 4x800, and the distance medley relay squads. She remains the current 800-meter record holder for Saratoga Springs, and a member of the Saratoga and Section 2 record holding 3200-meter re-
lay team.
She attended the University at Albany and ran in all three disciplines there and also was part of the recordholding DMR squad for the Great Danes.
She is currently a social studies teacher in the Galway School District.
Claudia Didziulis, class of 1952, participated in varsity basketball, varsity cheerleading and varsity softball for Saratoga Springs High School. After graduating from Becker College in Worcester, Ms Didziulis became a long-time secretary to Athletic Directors Raymond Waldron and Bob Stulmaker from 1976 to 2000.
She received the firstever Section 2 Athletic Director’s Secretary of the Year Award in 1999.
Rory Pedrick, class of 2004, participated in varsity football and varsity lacrosse for three years.
He was a captain of football and lacrosse team his senior year, a first-team Suburban Council selection in lacrosse twice. He was selected as a High School AllAmerican in lacrosse and the recipient of the Ray Waldron Outstanding Athlete Award along with earning a National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Award.
He went on to play four years of DI lacrosse at UMass and participated in the NCAA championship game his sophomore year. He was a senior captain at UMass and was the first Blue Streak to be recognized by ESPN’s ‘Play of the Day’ segment.
Bill Scott, class of 1929, was a three sport varsity star, playing football, basketball, and baseball for four years at Saratoga. He was a two-sport athlete at Springfield College competing in baseball and track. He played baseball and batted third in front of Ted Williams on the US Army team in WWII.
After graduating from Springfield College, he started the athletic programs at Northville High School and served as both athletic director and coach for all teams. He then became the athletic director for Ballston Spa where he began the sports program and was the first football, baseball, and basketball coach in the program’s history. He coached in seven decades and was also a top football official in the 1930s and 1940s. The school mascot of the “Scotties” was named in his honor.
Lawrence “Toby” Youngblood, class of 1975, participated in varsity basketball and varsity baseball for at Saratoga Springs. He was a member of the Foothills Council all-star team in 1974-75, named captain and awarded most improved player in 1974-75.
He was a member of the Foothills Council champion basketball and baseball team in 1974-75. In 1975, he was awarded Outstanding Male Athlete, Section 2 Leader in stolen base percentage, baseball’s most valuable player, and was a Booster Club Award Winner.
After high school, Youngblood coached basketball for CYO, and was the coach and general manager for Saratoga American Little League. In addition, he coached baseball and basketball at Saratoga Central Catholic, Schuylerville and Galway High Schools.
He remains active in the Saratoga American Little League program, high school sports, NY Mets semi-pro baseball team, Black Student Alliance AllStar Basketball, and the Schuylerville Community Theater.
A committee composed of current and former coaches; high school administrators, community members and current and retired athletic directors reviewed the nominations and selected the honorees. A trophy case in the lobby of the “blue gym” will hold plaques in honor of the Hall of Fame members. Follow Stan Hudy on Twitter @StanHudy