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Rookies La Stella, Simmons give boost to Braves

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves received a needed boost from two players recalled from the minors last week.

Now Tommy La Stella and Shae Simmons are set for their home debuts.

Atlanta opens a two-game series with Seattle on Tuesday night. The starting second baseman is expected to be La Stella, who had back-to-back two-hit games in the Braves’ weekend sweep at Miami.

The Braves also have a new power arm in their bullpen. Simmons, fresh from Double-A Mississippi, recorded a key out on Saturday. The right-hander then earned his first save on Sunday when closer Craig Kimbrel needed a rest.

General manager Frank Wren said Simmons, 23, filled a void left with right-hander Jordan Walden on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury.

Walden “was exceptional in April,” Wren told The Associated Press on Monday. “He gives us that solid end of the game guy, to be able to bridge to Kimbrel, and we were missing that. We think Simmons can do some of that.”

Simmons left Miami with two game balls and valuable experience. He survived two hits and a walk to earn the save in Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Marlins.

“Now that it’s over with, I can kind of ease my mind,” Simmons said. “I got through my first couple of appearances OK. Hopefully I just continue to work and get better from here.”

Catcher Evan Gattis said Simmons wasn’t rattled in his first two pressure situations.

“He showed good composure,” Gattis said. “He didn’t seem to get too shaken up. I think it was good that he was in that high-pressure situation (Saturday). I think that helped.”

The clutch production from La Stella, 25, and Simmons was especially important after the Braves lost four straight to the Red Sox. The three-game sweep of the Marlins kept the Braves in first place in the NL East before an off day on Monday.

“Both of them were brought up at a time when we had a need and they have performed quite well in getting their first taste of the big leagues,” Wren said.

The Braves tried Dan Uggla, Ramiro Pena and Tyler Pastornicky at second base before finally calling up La Stella, who was promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett. He had two hits in his debut on Wednesday at Boston and is hitting .400 through his first five games.

La Stella’s promotion led to renewed speculation the Braves might try to trade Uggla, who is hitting only .176. Wren insists the La Stella move and Uggla’s status are “mutually exclusive.”

“They don’t impact each other,” Wren said. “What we’re looking for is a spark out of that position, wherever that comes from and however that comes about.

“In Danny’s case, we would love for him to get something going, but at the same time we’ll continue to play like we’re playing.”

La Stella likely will remain the starter as long as he provides a steady influence on a lineup which otherwise has been too reliant on all-or-nothing big swings.

“We feel like he gives an added dimension offensively that we need and that’s plate discipline and putting the ball in play,” Wren said. “He seems to fit well in the lineup.”

Wren said Pastornicky, who was optioned to Gwinnett, needs regular playing time following a season-ending knee injury in 2013.

“Tyler really has missed a lot of time,” Wren said. “He missed two months at the end of last season with the ACL and missed most of spring training. We just felt it was in his best interest to go down and play regularly.”

___

AP Sports Writer Steven Wine in Miami contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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