Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 39
Pitt’s Jeff Capel releases nonconference schedule, pleased Backyard Brawl with WVU will continue
Pitt released its 11-game nonconference basketball schedule Wednesday, and coach Jeff Capel is pleased that it features four opponents from power conferences. The highlight will be the hardwood version of the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia on Dec. 6 in Morgantown. It will be the 190th game in the series...
Pirates rookie Alika Williams makes the most of his brief appearance while coming home to San Diego
The throw from Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez sailed to the first base side of the second base bag. Stolen base, Ha-Seong Kim? Not so fast. Pirates rookie shortstop Alika Williams, who joined the team for the first time from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day, caught the ball to...
Pirates collect only 3 hits, but 5-1 loss to Padres offers its share of drama
The Pittsburgh Pirates managed only three hits in their 5-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Petco Park. Yet the game was not without drama, at least for a few moments in the bottom of the seventh inning. Pirates relief pitcher Angel Perdomo hit the Padres’...
Pirates spring training game schedule starts Feb. 24 against the Twins
The Pittsburgh Pirates will play 31 games during the 2024 spring training season, including 16 at their home base, LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla., according to the schedule released Tuesday by team officials. The first game is Feb. 24 in Fort Myers, Fla., against the Minnesota Twins. Three of the...
Pirates place Tucupita Marcano on 60-day injured list, promote infielder Alika Williams from Triple-A
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed infielder Tucupita Marcano on the 60-day injured list Tuesday night, most likely ending his season, after he suffered a serious injury to his right knee Monday night in San Diego. To fill Marcano’s roster spot, shortstop/second baseman Alika Williams was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis. Williams, 24,...
Pirates hope Quinn Priester’s trust in his ability, teammates leads to success
The most important lesson rookie Quinn Priester took away from his first major-league victory Monday night was the advisability to trust. “Trust myself,” he said on the AT&T SportsNet postgame show. “(Monday), we trusted the plan, trusted myself a lot more.” The result was an 8-4 Pittsburgh Pirates victory against...
Pirates slug 4 home runs in 8-4 victory against Padres
Carlos Santana shrugged when he was reminded that he hit one of his two home runs Monday night after fouling a pitch off his foot. He never mentioned the pain he ignored while lifting the baseball into the air, even though he stepped gingerly out of the batter’s box at...
Pirates’ Tucupita Marcano injures knee trying to avoid tag, leaves game against Padres
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Tucupita Marcano left the game in the fifth inning Monday night in San Diego’s Petco Park after injuring ligaments in his right knee while trying to advance from first to third base on Liover Peguero’s infield single. Marcano appeared to twist his knee while stepping on...
Adjustments with mechanics at LSU helped vault Pirates’ No. 1 pick Paul Skenes from ‘good to next level’
When Wes Johnson is asked about Paul Skenes — especially, the pinpoint control this season at LSU and his ceiling in the big leagues — the response is usually the same. “I can’t give you a short answer on that,” he said. Not that Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ No. 1...
Mitch Keller’s troubles continue in Pirates’ loss to Angels
Mitch Keller knows what he needs to do next. “Hit the video room, see what’s going on,” he said Sunday on the AT&T SportsNet postgame show after his second consecutive shaky start led to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 7-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. “I have to get back to...
From Pitt to Zoo Crew to pros in Cyprus, Nelly Cummings completes basketball circle of life
Nelly Cummings said suiting up for the Zoo Crew in The Basketball Tournament next week won’t be much different from playing for Pitt last season. With one distinct difference. “It’s just you know there’s a million dollars at the end of it,” he said. “If there’s a loose ball, you...
Pitt assistant AD Penny Semaia joins Buffalo Bills as vice president of stadium relations
Penny Semaia, who earned four letters on the Pitt football team before rising to the position of senior associate athletic director for the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program, has accepted a job as the Buffalo Bills’ vice president of stadium relations. He will work with Bills vice...
Brice Hill can break Pirates clubhouse rules, and his dad doesn’t mind
There is an unwritten rule in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse that states, simply, don’t bother that day’s starting pitcher before the game. It’s a matter of professional courtesy to give him time and space to think about how to attack the opponent’s hitters. Brice Hill broke that rule Wednesday, but...
‘He will serve his country,’ but first, Pirates have high hopes for Paul SkenesVideo
During Paul Skenes’ two years at the Air Force Academy, there was little he loved more than folding his 6-foot, 6½-inch, 260-pound frame into an F-15 fighter aircraft. Even if it meant hitting his head on the roof of the cockpit and enduring 9 Gs of force, or about nine...
Penn State’s Daniel Ouderkirk chosen by Mariners in 18th round of MLB Draft
After striking out 57 batters in 39 2/3 innings this season, Penn State right-handed pitcher Daniel Ouderkirk was chosen Tuesday in the 18th round of the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. He was the 547th player selected. Ouderkirk (6-foot-9, 256 pounds) compiled an ERA of 7.26 with a 1.76...
Seton Hill pitcher Kevin Vaupel, a South Park graduate, goes to Marlins in 16th round
South Park graduate Kevin Vaupel, a left-handed starter at Seton Hill, was chosen by the Miami Marlins in the 16th round (No. 473 overall) of the MLB Draft on Tuesday. Vaupel (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) was 6-1 with a 2.04 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in nine starts this season for Seton...
Pitt pitchers Logan Evans, Dylan Simmons selected in 12th, 15 rounds of MLB Draft
Pitt right-handed pitchers Logan Evans and Dylan Simmons were chosen Tuesday in the 12th round by the Seattle Mariners and 15th round by the Cincinnati Reds on the third day of the MLB Draft. They were the 367th and 458th players drafted. Evans (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) transferred from Penn State...
Penn State shortstop Jay Harry goes to the Twins in 6th round
Penn State shortstop Jay Harry was chosen Monday by the Minnesota Twins in the sixth round (No. 177 overall) of the MLB Draft. He is the 78th Penn State player chosen, 13th since 2016 and 16th all-time in the top 10 rounds. Harry played in 146 games for the Nittany...
Blue Jays draft WVU center fielder Braden Berry in 8th round
After the Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Carlson Reed in the fourth round of the MLB Draft, his teammate, junior outfielder Braden Barry, went to the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth round (No. 244 overall) on Monday. They are the 106th and 107th Mountaineers chosen all-time, including 37 under...
In statement, Bob Huggins denies he resigned as WVU coach, says program is ‘in need’
Bob Huggins, the hall of fame West Virginia basketball coach who was replaced after a DUI arrest June 16 in Pittsburgh, has denied writing a statement that was released the next day by the university under his name. “The false statement was sent under my name, but no signature is...
After on-field cardiac arrest, Damar Hamlin expands stage, mission to promote heart health
The clear, distinctive voice that called out signals for Pitt’s defense late in the previous decade rang out Friday throughout historic Cupples Stadium. Damar Hamlin was back in the city he loves. There he was, clearly the man in charge at his free-of-charge youth football camp, signing dozens of autographs,...
Pirates blow 4-run lead, fail to deliver clutch hits in loss to Dodgers
After a wild ride the previous night and some shaky starting pitching over the past week, there was nothing the Pittsburgh Pirates needed more Wednesday at Dodger Stadium than a solid performance from their starter. Osvaldo Bido failed to provide it, and the Dodgers (48-38) went on to record a...
Pirates send struggling Luis Ortiz to Triple-A Indianapolis
Luis Ortiz, who has made 10 starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates but recently ran into hard times, was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday. Ortiz (2-3) was the starting pitcher in the Pirates’ 9-7 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday when he allowed nine hits, including three home...
Pirates rally in 9th inning to shock Dodgers, 9-7
There was a promise of fireworks at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night, and the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers delivered — even before the postgame sky show started. The game featured five home run blasts in front of a Fourth of July crowd of 51,487. The Dodgers hit four...
Pirates closer David Bednar added to National League All-Star roster, will make 2nd appearance
It took a few days to make it official, but Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar on Tuesday was added to the National League roster for the All-Star Game. It will be Bednar’s second consecutive appearance in the All-Star Game, which is 8 p.m. July 11 in Seattle. The Renegade returns....
