Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 116

In the wake of the Northeast Conference postponing the start of its fall sports seasons amidst the covid-19 pandemic, Duquesne is taking a patient and cautious approach in regards to its football and women’s bowling teams, associate members of the conference. “We are continuing to monitor all the health data...

For the first time in five years, there will be a new school among the Duquesne men’s basketball team’s Atlantic 10 home-and-home opponents. The Atlantic 10, which will celebrate its 45th anniversary, released its 2020-21 schedule pairings Thursday, with Davidson replacing Saint Louis as one of the Dukes’ five two-time...

With a plan in place to conduct a football season in the ACC this year, next up for Heather Lyke is identifying a nonconference opponent to complete the schedule. Pitt’s athletic director said Thursday on 93.7 FM she likely will honor one of the contracts already in place with either...

When Derek Shelton plants five players in the outfield grass — baseball teams normally use three — he is not trying to change the essence of the game or attract attention. The Pittsburgh Pirates employ a team of analysts and coaches who study where opposing batters are likely to hit...

If state and health officials allow, there will be football in the ACC this season. The conference released its reconfigured schedule Wednesday, trimming each team’s original 12-game slate by one, playing 10 ACC opponents and one outside the conference and welcoming Notre Dame as a member for the 2020 season....

With trust in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen fading, Geoff Hartlieb and Nick Burdi stepped onto the mound Tuesday night and offered hope in an 8-6 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Both pitchers recorded firsts while helping the Pirates recover from a 6-2 deficit they faced in the...

The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number. No. 34: Billy Knight When Pitt’s Billy Knight scored a career-high 37 points against UCLA on Dec. 22, 1972, he shared top billing with the...

Jeff Capel’s quest to rebuild the Pitt basketball program hit what he hopes is a temporary roadblock Monday when four-star guard and Penn Hills native Jalen Hood-Schifino re-opened his recruitment. Hood-Schifino, 6-foot-4, verbally committed to Pitt last year as a sophomore. Schifino is ranked as the 33rd overall prospect by...

In the wake of former defensive coordinator Vic Koenning’s departure from the staff, West Virginia coach Neal Brown will split duties on that side of the ball among five assistants. Brown said the ongoing pandemic also played a part in his decision not to name a specific replacement for Koenning....

Surprising no one, Central Catholic defensive tackle Elliot Donald announced Friday he will enroll at Pitt next year, joining a program where his uncle Aaron was one of the most celebrated players in school history. In Due Time ?? | DIRECTED BY @prospectmedia_ ? pic.twitter.com/9xOPMVNACM— Elliot Donald (@ElliotDonald3) July 24,...

Pitt senior quarterback Kenny Pickett and Penn State running back Journey Brown and linebacker Micah Parsons were named Friday to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, presented annually to the best all-around player in college football. Pickett will be a three-year starter this season, but he also started one...

Only in 2020 would you hear a top university official speak these words about the football season, two weeks before the start of training camp: “Right now, we are not in an ideal spot,” Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke said Wednesday morning. With each day ripped off the calendar, the...

Heather Lyke is not on a crusade to shut down casinos, crush betting apps or eliminate sports gambling — now legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia. “I think we all recognize that gambling is omnipresent in our country,” Pitt’s athletic director said Thursday on a conference call...

Neal Huntington knew the value of a strong bullpen in an era when starting pitchers are typically pulled after six innings. The former Pittsburgh Pirates general manager made what appeared to be good trades for closer Felipe Vazquez and setup man Keone Kela, hoping they could nail down tight games...

Breakout candidate Nick Burdi After Tommy John surgery in 2017 and a horrific arm injury last season, Burdi has elevated his velocity into the high 90s. Derek Shelton called his stuff “electric,” which describes the type of pitches a closer needs to be successful. He never has closed in the...

Pirates manager Derek Shelton revealed Wednesday night relief pitcher Keone Kela, who has missed all of spring training 2.0 this month, has tested positive for covid-19. Kela is the fifth Pirates player to test positive. Previously, relief pitcher Blake Cederlind, outfielders Gregory Polanco and Socrates Brito and third baseman Ke’Bryan...

The game was an exhibition, a mere warm-up for what really matters. In that light, Derek Holland wasn’t concerned he allowed three runs in three innings in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 5-3 loss Wednesday night to the Cleveland Indians at PNC Park. The Pirates, who were 3-15 in spring training 1.0...

Pennsylvania’s Department of Health will not permit the Toronto Blue Jays to play at PNC Park in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, officials announced Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Jays were seeking a major-league venue to play their home games after the Canadian government declared the Rogers Centre in Toronto...

Based on forecasts of rain Wednesday evening, the start time for the finale of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ three-game exhibition series against the Cleveland Indians at PNC Park has been moved to 5:05 p.m. GAME TIME CHANGE: Tonight's game vs the Indians has been moved up to 5:05pm due to the...

West Virginia University and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning cut ties Wednesday after an investigation into allegations he mistreated players and made inappropriate comments in their presence. Sophomore safety Kerry Martin Jr. initially made the charges last month on Twitter. Here's what Kerry Martin posted today. AD Shane Lyons thanked him...

This is the third of a four-part position-by-position preview of the Pirates heading into Friday’s season opener in St. Louis. Friday: Bullpen In a fantasy world, let’s imagine Jameson Taillon never needed a second Tommy John surgery, and Chris Archer remained healthy and his performance matched what the Pittsburgh Pirates...

Breakout candidate Joe Musgrove He has yet to compile a winning record or an ERA under 4.06 in four seasons, but Musgrove looks poised to take his place atop the Pirates rotation. He’s no Gerrit Cole (compare paychecks), but perhaps that won’t turn out to be a bad deal the...

Derek Shelton revealed the third piece of his starting rotation Tuesday when he named Mitch Keller to start Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Previously, he said Joe Musgrove and Trevor Williams will pitch the first two games of the season-opening series Friday and Saturday. Keller threw...