Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 90
Pitt’s Justin Champagnie invited to NBA Draft Combine
Former Pitt forward Justin Champagnie will take the next step toward the NBA — perhaps the most significant one — after accepting an invitation to participate in the NBA Draft Combine that starts Monday and continues through June 27 at the Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis in Chicago. “I am...
Nationals dominate early, stretch Pirates’ losing streak to 9
For those wondering if the Pittsburgh Pirates finally were destined to end their losing streak, the question was answered early. On their way to an 8-1 victory Tuesday night at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., the Washington Nationals scored five runs in the first inning, and the Pirates (23-43) never...
Wide receiver Addison Copeland commits to Pitt; recruiting class grows to 7
Addison Copeland III, a wide receiver from Buffalo, N.Y., joined the recent parade of 2022 prospects to make public their commitment to Pitt when he put the news on his Twitter account Tuesday. 110% committed ??@Pitt_FB @BrennanMarion4 @CoachMcCannERT @wufosports @sportsQUBEtv @CoachDuzzPittFB You can’t even imagine the amount of thought that...
WVU will welcome the return of football fans to Milan Puskar Stadium at 100% capacity
In one of the final steps toward the return to normalcy at West Virginia football games, athletic director Shane Lyons said Tuesday that Milan Puskar Stadium will return to 100% fan capacity this season, with full stadium operating procedures, including pregame tailgating in the parking lots. Plus, all West Virginia...
Pirates pitcher Tyler Anderson says changes to baseball may have caused pitchers ‘to cross the line’
With MLB cracking down on the use of illegal substances on baseballs, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Tyler Anderson said Tuesday night that repeated changes to the balls might have caused some pitchers to cross “the line” to counteract “balls that fly.” “When your pitches aren’t doing something the same, I think...
Get a covid-19 shot, score 2 free tickets to Pirates game
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who have helped facilitate the covid-19 vaccination of more than 16,000 people, are now offering free tickets as an incentive to those who are still unvaccinated. The Pirates will serve as hosts Saturday at PNC Park to Major League Baseball’s “MLB Vaccinate at the Plate” campaign that...
Former Pitt football player Kellen McAlone earns part in movie ’12 Mighty Orphans’
In five football seasons at Pitt, Kellen McAlone did anything coaches asked of him. “He’ll come in here and mop the floors if we wanted,” coach Pat Narduzzi said after rewarding his former walk-on wide receiver a scholarship. That was then (2018). Leave it to the movie industry to bring...
Pirates’ losing streak reaches eight in a row
Derek Shelton was happy with starting pitcher J.T. Brubaker’s five innings, even if they constituted barely more than half the game, even though they couldn’t prevent the Pittsburgh Pirates (23-42) from losing their eighth in a row. “As long as our starters are efficient, I’m happy with their outings,” the...
After trade from Pirates, Josh Bell turns the page, hopes for better end to story
Josh Bell wasn’t sure what might happen after the Pittsburgh Pirates’ dismal 2020 season. A different front office than the one that drafted, signed and made him a rich man was in charge now. No one was safe. During the offseason, he exchanged several text messages with teammate Jameson Taillon,...
Adam Frazier’s mastery of strike zone lifts him to second in All-Star voting
Adam Frazier is making a push to win a starting job in the All-Star Game on July 13 at Coors Field in Denver. He is second among National League second basemen in the voting and third in the league overall with a .336 batting average after 64 games. During the...
Pitt snares verbal commitment from New York defensive end
The return of face-to-face recruiting this month for the first time since the start of the covid-19 pandemic netted another promise for Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi. Defensive end Jimmy Scott pledged to enroll next year, making the announcement Monday on his Twitter account. Dedication…Hard work + Patience ?#H2P?? pic.twitter.com/RwLBnRD1o9— Jimmy...
Pitt football gets 5th commitment for Class of 2022
In the midst of a burst of on-campus recruiting visits after the NCAA lifted the covid-19 ban on face-to-face contact June 1, Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi secured a fifth verbal commitment from the Class of 2022 on Saturday. Jordaan Bailey, a running back from Tampa, Fla., pledged to the...
Pirates halt throwing activity for Triple-A pitcher Miguel Yajure
Miguel Yajure, who made two starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this season, has stopped throwing for Triple-A Indianapolis while dealing with right elbow discomfort. Yajure was placed on the seven-day injured list, retroactive to Tuesday. “It’s an injury that is hindering him at this point in time where we...
Backyard Brawl with Pitt returns to West Virginia’s basketball schedule
West Virginia’s 2021-22 nonconference basketball schedule features meetings with two former Mountaineers, the return of longtime foes Pitt and Connecticut and a spot in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. WVU will open the regular season Nov. 9 against Oakland at the WVU Coliseum. Three days later, Pitt comes to Morgantown for...
Pitt hires ex-point guard Brianna Kiesel as assistant coach on women’s basketball staff
As a point guard, Brianna Kiesel provided on-court direction for the Pitt women’s basketball team. Now, she’ll do the same from the bench. Coach Lance White announced Thursday that Kiesel, who spent the past six seasons playing professionally, will join his staff as an assistant coach. “After a nationwide search...
Former Pitt center and NBA 1st-round pick Eric Mobley dies at 51
Eric Mobley, one of only eight Pitt basketball players chosen in the first round of the NBA Draft, has died. He was 51. RIP ? pic.twitter.com/fBKb4lUpcV— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) June 3, 2021 Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Mobley played at Salesian High School in New Rochelle, N.Y., before enrolling at...
Pirates trade utility player Ildemaro Vargas to Arizona in exchange for cash
Two weeks after claiming utility man Ildemaro Vargas off waivers from the Chicago Cubs, the Pirates traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday for cash. Vargas, 29, started his major-league career with the Diamondbacks in 2017 before splitting time last season between the Cubs and Minnesota Twins. The Pirates...
LaVar Arrington, 3 Steelers among Western Pa. stars nominated for College Football Hall of Fame
Nominees for the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame class include several Western Pennsylvania stars with roots in Bethel Park, Slippery Rock and many places in between. Plus, there are three who made their mark with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The ballot was emailed Wednesday to more than 12,000 NFF members...
Pirates’ Derek Shelton believes David Bednar has closer ability, but that’s not the current plan
After the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most recent defeat Tuesday night, manager Derek Shelton wasn’t thinking too far beyond Wednesday’s day off. The return of Ke’Bryan Hayes, set for Thursday at PNC Park against the Miami Marlins, is the big event. But outfielder Ka’ai Tom was hit by a pitch and left...
Starting pitcher Wil Crowe allows grand slam as Pirates blow lead in loss to Royals
Derek Shelton trusted his pitcher. Wil Crowe didn’t justify that trust. The result Tuesday night on the first day of June was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 10-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals (27-26) at Kauffman Stadium. The Pirates were 8-20 in May, have now lost three games in a row...
Pirates notebook: Colin Moran, Phillip Evans start rehab assignments in Indianapolis
Injured infielders Colin Moran and Phillip Evans took their most important steps toward rejoining the Pittsburgh Pirates when they begin rehab assignments Tuesday in Triple-A Indianapolis. The Indians start a six-game home series against the Columbus Clippers on Tuesday night. Moran, who has transitioned this season into the Pirates’ regular...
Pitt basketball adds Stony Brook graduate transfer forward Mouhamadou Gueye
Jeff Capel continued rebuilding his roster Monday, adding a fifth new player when he received a verbal commitment from 6-foot-9 Stony Brook graduate transfer Mouhamadou Gueye. The addition of Gueye gives the Panthers some help in the paint for 6-9 John Hugley, who was recently reinstated from a suspension after...
Pitt baseball left out of NCAA Tournament field
Mike Bell embraced his team’s success this season, but he also wanted to address head-on its biggest disappointment. “Collectively and quietly,” he said Monday when Pitt’s baseball team was not included in the NCAA Tournament’s field of 64. So, minutes before the selection show appeared on ESPN2, he met with...
Pirates 1B Will Craig has company when it comes to losing — or using — your head in a baseball gameVideo
You think Will Craig feels bad? Will Craig, meet Fred Merkle, Al Martin, Milton Bradley and Jose Canseco. Baseball players have been having brain hiccups for more than 100 years. Here are a few: Merkle’s Boner At least Craig’s gaffe Thursday at PNC Park won’t cost the Pittsburgh Pirates a...
Pitt loses pitchers’ duel to N.C. State in ACC Tournament
Mike Bell didn’t like the outcome Thursday night when his Pitt baseball team bowed out of the ACC Tournament with a 3-2 loss to N.C. State at Truist Field in Charlotte, N.C. But he appreciates a good thing when he sees it on a baseball diamond. “It was a beautiful...
