Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 66

When Karter Johnson left Pickerington Central High School for TCU in 2019, he was a 286-pound defensive tackle. One of the best in the nation, by the way. Rivals.com ranked him No. 21 at his position. In Ohio, he was the No. 12 overall prospect. I am excited to announce...

Pitt coach Jeff Capel has secured the second of his two new backcourt players with the signing Friday of former Marquette guard Greg Elliott, who announced his verbal commitment Tuesday. Elliott will join returning guards Jamarius Burton and Nike Sibande, plus Nelly Cummings, who transferred from Colgate. Burton, Sibande and...

All-American wide receiver Jordan Addison, who made the Pitt passing game special last season on his way to winning the Biletnikoff Award, ended nearly three weeks of speculation Thursday when he announced he will transfer to USC. Addison entered the NCAA transfer portal May 3 after reports arose that he...

Charles Small, who rose through the ranks of sports administration at Pitt after four seasons on the basketball team from 2003-06, has been named athletic director at Valparaiso, University President José D. Padilla, J.D., announced Thursday. Small began his professional career in 2006 as a graduate assistant for Student Life...

Conference realignment killed many of the most storied rivalries in college football, but West Virginia and Pitt are scheduled to meet eight times over the next 11 seasons, starting Sept. 1 at Heinz Field. To commemorate the occasion, the schools put their heads together to create the official Backyard Brawl...

Considering the angst created by the Pirates’ recent offensive deficiencies, it was shocking to look up Thursday morning and discover they had won three of their past five games. This is a team that is last (15th) in the National League in runs scored (122), 14th in home runs (28)...

Tim Suwinski insisted the salty droplet trickling down his face was sweat. But no one believed him. Who could blame Suwinski, a retired carpenter who devoted much of his adult life to chauffeuring his children to their sporting events, if he shed a tear or two in the Wrigley Field...

Veteran catcher Roberto Perez, who was helping guide the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff through the difficult early days of the season, will have season-ending surgery to repair his hamstring, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday afternoon. Perez, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract in November, to replace...

Pitt men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel continued to make use of the NCAA transfer portal, securing a commitment Tuesday from former Marquette guard Greg Elliott. Elliott, 6-foot-3, has played four seasons at Marquette, appearing in 114 games with 11 starts. He could compensate for the loss of Ithiel Horton to...

Sidney Crosby’s suspected concussion, apparently the result of a high hit from New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba in Game 5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first-round playoff series, forced him to miss the 5-3 loss Friday in Game 6. Injuries and medical misfortune have forced other Pittsburgh athletes to miss...

Among Chris Curd’s last public appearances as a Pitt football player, there he was leaning on crutches at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, a large brace strapped to his leg. Curd had made his first start at wide receiver opposite Larry Fitzgerald on Sept. 27, 2003, against Texas A&M,...

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton was impressed with how Connor Overton kept the Pirates’ bats under control Thursday night. “Second time in a row, he kept us off the barrel,” Shelton said after the Cincinnati Reds almost effortlessly defeated the Pirates, 4-0, in front of a crowd of 9,470 at...

Cole Tucker took the bad news of his demotion to Triple-A Indianapolis like his manager expected. “I shouldn’t say very well in that he was excited about it,” Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “But very professionally. I think he knows there are some things he needs to work on....

When Cam Alldred got word of his callup to the Pittsburgh Pirates late Tuesday night, he was shocked and almost speechless. “I blacked out,” he said. Not exactly. He was conscious enough to know what he wanted to do next. “I wanted to call my dad and tell him. I...

Daniel Vogelbach has been in the majors since 2016 with four teams. The Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter understands nothing is certain over the course of 162 games. So he wasn’t surprised when the Pirates — on the strength of his tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning — defeated the...

Jake Marisnick, whose left thumb was bent back toward his elbow while making a diving catch in left field Monday, will have surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament. Todd Tomczyk, the Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine, said the procedure is expected to occur in the “next couple days.”...

Bryse Wilson said he “felt good.” “Stuff felt good. Mechanics felt good,” the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher said. Unfortunately for Wilson and the Pirates, the Dodgers (20-8) felt better than good while pounding four pitchers with 15 hits – 10 for extra bases – in an 11-1 victory Tuesday night...

Cole Tucker had a ready, logical and honest explanation Tuesday for his decision to stop switch-hitting and concentrate on batting from the left side. “I’m tired of getting the bat shoved up my butt right-handed, bluntly,” he said before the Pittsburgh Pirates game Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at...

Already missing shortstop Kevin Newman, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost outfielder Jake Marisnick on Tuesday when he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb injury. Marisnick injured the thumb while making a diving catch Monday night in the 5-1 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Right-handed pitcher...

Before the Indianapolis Indians game Saturday, catcher Michael Perez was casually looking for something to eat in the clubhouse kitchen. Suddenly, Miguel Perez, the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate, rushed up to him, urgency in his voice, and canceled Michael’s pregame repast. “He tells me, `You gotta go....

When the NCAA Division I Board of Directors set up the first guardrails intended to regulate boosters emboldened by name, image and likeness legislation, Jordan Addison’s presence in the transfer portal was one of the tipping points, a sports attorney said Tuesday. “I think the Jordan Addison situation clearly was...

Davis Beville’s decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal after three seasons at Pitt looked like a sound choice Monday when he committed to Oklahoma, where he has a chance to be the Sooners’ No. 1 backup quarterback. Betting on myself! B⭕️⭕️MER ????#OUDNA #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/fj4yHMduH6— Davis Beville (@DBthaQB11) May 9,...

Pitt women’s basketball coach Lance White added a fifth new face to the roster Friday when two-time West Virginia Player of the Year Marley Washenitz signed a national letter of intent. Washenitz, a 5-foot-10 guard, played at Fairmont High School, scoring more than 2,000 points in four years and earning...

Pat Narduzzi didn’t mention the big news — Jordan Addison entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal – while speaking this week at the Peach Bowl Challenge, a charity golf event outside Atlanta. But when he was asked about Kedon Slovis, Narduzzi wasn’t shy about discussing how his transfer...

For those concerned the Pittsburgh Pirates have made no progress from last season, know this: Despite a 10-14 record (two games short of last season’s 12-12 after 24 games), there is opportunity looming that could change the team’s outlook. After Thursday’s off day — a welcome respite after playing 17...