Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 143
Leadoff batter Kevin Newman sparks Pirates in sweep of RedsVideo
Knowing what preceded the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 9-8 victory Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds, Clint Hurdle couldn’t help but smile and poke a little fun at himself. After all, the Pirates manager made the call to insert Kevin Newman atop the batting order, and the rookie shortstop responded by reaching base...
Pitt dietitian Jen Hatz leads football team on calculated feeding frenzyVideo
If the Pitt football team looks back on training camp in three months and sees it as the launching pad for a successful season, Jen Hatz might credit Cap’N Crunch. Or, maybe she will say it was the work of leprechauns. Or, more realistically, it was just Hatz’s beloved carbohydrates...
Pitt running backs don’t mind trying to clear high hurdles
The names Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall still resonate loudly throughout the halls and fields of Pitt’s practice facility. And, really, Todd Sibley Jr. doesn’t mind. “We know those two guys are really, really good,” said Pitt’s sophomore running back. “It’s hard to replace two 1,000-yard rushers.” But Sibley believes...
Pitt gets verbal commitment from offensive lineman Branson Taylor
Surrounded by his teammates on the Elyria Catholic football field, offensive lineman Branson Taylor made a verbal commitment to Pitt on Friday night. Taylor, rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, is the second offensive lineman in Pitt’s class of 2020, joining Michael Statham of Baltimore. He is the second Pitt...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi names co-captains, gives them their sayVideo
Knowing the right time to blitz or call a gadget play are skills every coach should know after gaining years of experience. But the other side of coaching — the personal interaction with players, especially off the field — is something Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi says he takes seriously. Which is...
Pirates fall to Nationals, drop to 8-30 since All-Star BreakVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost six games in a row when Steven Brault is their starting pitcher, including a 7-1 decision Thursday night at PNC Park to the Washington Nationals. You would think Brault is to blame. You would be wrong. Brault solidified his status as the Pirates’ best starting...
Auditions continue for Pirates catchers Elias Diaz, Jacob StallingsVideo
Francisco Cervelli is gone, but nothing changes for catchers Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings. Their audition to remain the Pittsburgh Pirates’ major league catching duo continues. It hasn’t been a good season for Diaz, however. He hit .286 last season but got a late start this year while suffering from...
Pitt’s Habakkuk Baldonado got late start growing up in Italy, but he’s catching up
Born in Rome, Habakkuk Baldonado appreciates the opportunity he has at Pitt to get a free education while playing football in a Power 5 conference. He loves his teammates and enjoys the journey they are on together as the college football season approaches. Sure, others received a more extensive football...
Pirates cut ties with catcher Francisco Cervelli
The news reached the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse several hours before Felipe Vazquez was asked about Thursday’s release of his friend, catcher Francisco Cervelli. “I still can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s going to be tough for everyone.” The Pirates had been playing without Cervelli since he went on the concussion...
Predictably, Pat Narduzzi pleased as Pitt approaches the end of training camp
Pat Narduzzi asked the important question Thursday morning. “Eighteen days in, where are we?” he said before practice. Predictably, he answered his own question by saying he is pleased, especially with the chemistry that has developed among players and their attitude through camp’s “ups and downs.” “Our team has grown...
Dukes will move five nonconference games to PPG Paints Arena, La Roche
While renovation work continues on Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, the men’s basketball team will play 12 nonconference games off-campus, including four at La Roche University and one at PPG Paints Arena. The Dukes, who are 16-4 in nonconference home games under third-year coach Keith Dambrot, will open the season Nov....
Ex-Central Catholic star transfers from Penn State to Pitt
John Petrishen may not play immediately at Pitt, but there remains an avenue for the former all-state safety from Central Catholic to make an impact over the next two seasons. After transferring from Penn State, he ventured into the Pitt’s deep safety position Wednesday on the penultimate day of training...
Penguins assistant Bill Guerin named Wild general manager
Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager Bill Guerin, who won a Stanley Cup with the team as a player in 2009 and advanced within the organization to perform simultaneous front-office roles, was named the fourth general manager of the Minnesota Wild. He will be introduced by the Wild on Thursday during...
Ex-Central Catholic star John Petrishen transfers from Penn State to Pitt
John Petrishen may not play immediately at Pitt, but there remains an avenue for the former all-state safety from Central Catholic to make an impact over the next two seasons. After transferring from Penn State, he ventured into the Pitt’s deep safety position Wednesday on the penultimate day of training...
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi has depth at LB, but he’s not ready to name starters
When Pitt opened training camp, linebackers coach Rob Harley said he wasn’t sure who would play where and how much time on the field each player would earn. And at that point, he didn’t care. That’s why schools spend so much time, energy and money to hold training camp —...
Pitt freshman RB Vincent Davis impressive, but will he play right away?
In one breath, Pat Narduzzi praised freshman running back Vincent Davis. “He knows what he’s doing,” Pitt’s coach said Tuesday morning before practice. “He’s just done a nice job of hitting the holes and twisting and spinning. He’s just been good. He showed that he’s going to be able to...
Trevor Williams’ struggles continue for Pirates in 13-0 loss to NationalsVideo
Trevor Williams spoke softly, but with conviction and purpose, while trying to explain what has gone wrong for him this season. He was roughed up Monday night by the Washington Nationals, lasting only the first two innings of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 13-0 loss in front of a crowd of 11,284...
Chad Kuhl returns to PNC Park, vows 2020 comeback
Chad Kuhl stepped back onto the pitching mound last week in what can be considered an encouraging sign 11 months after Tommy John surgery. “I’ve been on the mound for a couple weeks now,” said Kuhl, who was back at PNC Park on Monday as part of his recovery. He...
Recent stretches by Pirates, Nationals show baseball’s unpredictability
When someone mentioned to Clint Hurdle on Monday afternoon that baseball is a difficult game to figure out, he enjoyed a good laugh. Which is probably a good thing for a manager to do occasionally when his team has lost 27 of 34 games. “There’s some wisdom there,” he said,...
Pirates open spring training schedule against Twins
The Pittsburgh Pirates will open their 33-game spring training schedule Feb. 22 at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla., against the Minnesota Twins. The schedule includes a total of nine opposing teams, including the Twins, Phillies, Orioles, Tigers, Blue Jays, Braves, Rays, Yankees and Red Sox. The Yankees and Red Sox...
3 Pitt opponents ranked in AP preseason Top 25 poll
Using the Associated Press’ 2019 preseason poll and the final poll from 2018 as guides, Pitt’s football schedule appears slightly less daunting than it did a year ago. But it is not an easy schedule, either. The Associated Press released its preseason poll Monday, six days before college football gets...
Pitt professor wants to put student-athletes to sleep
Pitt professor Chris Kline wants college students and athletes to wake up to the fact many of them are “notoriously sleep-deprived.” Kline, an assistant professor in Pitt’s Department of Health and Physical Activity, served on an NCAA Task Force on sleep and wellness in 2017, co-authoring a paper that recommends...
Day after spirited comeback, Pirates bats go silent in home loss to CubsVideo
Steven Brault reported to work Saturday in a good mood. Inspired by the strong outing Friday night from his buddy Joe Musgrove and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ninth-inning, game-winning rally, he was ready to take on the world. He settled for the Chicago Cubs and pitched what his manager called the...
After injury, Pirates haven’t forgotten about shortstop Erik GonzalezVideo
With his name in the starting lineup Saturday for only the 20th time this season, Erik Gonzalez reflected on one of best days of his major league career. That was the day — Nov. 14, 2018 — he was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Pittsburgh Pirates. A shortstop...
Pirates’ Clint Hurdle has seen his share of clubhouse arguments
When asked about the culture in his clubhouse, Clint Hurdle made two points: • If there’s a confrontation, he said he won’t back down from it. • Heated conversations happen in big league clubhouses “way more than you have any clue about.” In the wake of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ epic...
