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Philadelphia’s Davis, Chicago team talk of LLWS

By WTOP Staff

JOHN McGONIGAL
Associated Press

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — An African-American female pitcher from Philadelphia and a team from Chicago have created a buzz at the Little League World Series.

Philly’s Mo’ne Davis and the Jackie Robinson West squad are the talk of the series; professional athletes and politicians alike are following their every move. They’ve Skyped with the Los Angeles Dodgers, had shout-outs from NBA star Kevin Durant on Twitter and the Pennsylvania governor was in South Williamsport on Friday.

Davis, one of two girls in this year’s tournament, is the unquestioned fan favorite. The crowd cheers her every pitch and at-bat. Canada’s Emma March also felt the support before her team was eliminated Saturday.

The all-black Chicago squad shows there is still interest in the game in urban communities, even though African-Americans accounted for only about 8 percent of major league teams’ opening day rosters this year.

Paul Graziano, an LLWS press box announcer since 1980, has never seen this level of excitement so early in the tournament.

“We always got good crowds on championship weekends, but I’ve seen more growth and more people coming now for early games,” Graziano said. “You’ve got two girls and a team from the inner city … I think it will just bolster” Little League, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

Davis (1-0) could return to the mound Wednesday when Philadelphia takes on Las Vegas.

Not to diminish other LLWS highlights — including Rhode Island’s exciting rally against Nashville or Las Vegas’ rout of Chicago — but Davis has become a must-see performer. Her Philadelphia squad came from behind Sunday night to set up the showdown with Las Vegas

“She’s unflappable,” said Philadelphia manager Alex Rice, adding it’s “highly likely” that Davis will pitch Wednesday. “All the attention — she’s getting a little tired of the same questions and we’re getting past that — but the attention and everything isn’t getting to her. She’s having a blast.”

Davis received standing ovations from the crowd of more than 15,000 en route to becoming the first female pitcher to throw a shutout in Little League World Series history.

Nashville manager Chris Mercado said his team had seen faster pitching and “that kind of stuff” from other opposing pitchers, but the Davis hype caught up with his squad.

“It’s a hard situation to come into. This stadium, 20,000 all over the place, cheering for one player,” Mercado said.

David Stoker, a native of Mifflinville, Pennsylvania, said from his perspective as a LLWS usher and Little League umpire for the past 48 years, Davis has become the “spotlight” of young girls’ eyes.

“She, as a young lady, has opened doors for many other young ladies to participate not only in baseball, but also in softball,” said Stoker, sitting back in his chair outside the stadium, peering out onto the concourse through his brown-tinted sunglasses as his pin-covered hat flickered in the sunlight. “She has proven that girls can compete with the guys, and the guys know there’s a new girl on the block.”

Jackie Robinson West is a rare group of guys in the tournament. The Chicago group dominated its first game, but were blown out by Las Vegas on Sunday.

Still, the second team from Little League’s Urban Initiative to make it to the series has created a buzz of its own and has done its part to put the tournament on a bigger stage.

“Hopefully (Chicago’s success) will foster more growth in urban cities to help grow Little League,” Graziano said.

The overflow of attention that Davis and Chicago have garnered — in the stands, around the concourse and sports talk shows around the country — generates more pressure.

Stoker cautioned fans, especially adults, to keep in mind these players are still just kids.

“The boys have come through this, the girls are now on the same level and I think we as adults should let them grow up,” Stoker said. “Let’s not make them into superheroes.”

Stoker makes a good point, but Davis and Jackie Robinson West have already elevated interest in this series — and in them.

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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