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Tigers’ Avila remains sidelined with dizziness

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tigers catcher Alex Avila remained sidelined by concussion-like symptoms Friday, and manager Brad Ausmus was uncertain when the veteran backstop will be able to return to the lineup.

Rookie catcher James McCann started in Avila’s place as Detroit began a crucial three-game series against the Royals, who were a half-game back in the AL Central.

“‘Concussion’ is kind of tough to empirically define,” Ausmus explained, “but he’s showing after-effects of a concussion. Until he goes through activities without any side-effects, we probably won’t be able to use him.”

Avila took a foul ball off his mask two weeks ago in Cleveland and didn’t catch the next four games. He then left Sunday’s game against the Indians with some light-headedness.

Avila tried to work out the past two days, hitting in the cage, but the symptoms returned.

“He called it ‘disorientating,'” said Ausmus, a former catcher.

Avila is hitting just .223 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs, but his loss is costly considering the circumstances. The Tigers only have two other catchers on the roster in McCann and Bryan Holaday, though designated hitter Victor Martinez has spent most of his career as a catcher.

Ausmus elected to go with McCann, who has played in just five big league games, for the series opener in Kansas City because the night game will be followed by an early afternoon game Saturday. Holaday is expected to get the start in that game.

McCann was 0 for 5 at the plate with the Tigers, but he hit .295 with Triple-A Toledo this season. He’s also fared well against left-handers, and the Royals were starting lefty Jason Vargas.

“I think he understands the enormity of this game,” Ausmus said.

In a bit of positive news, right-hander Anibal Sanchez felt good after throwing a bullpen session during the Tigers’ day off Thursday. He’s expected to throw a simulated game on Sunday as he continues to recover from a strained right chest muscle.

Ausmus wouldn’t say whether there is a chance Sanchez could pitch before a potential playoff game. Sanchez has been replaced by rookie Kyle Lobstein in the rotation and that spot would be due to start Sept. 27 — the penultimate game of the regular-season.

For now, Ausmus just wants to wait to see how Sanchez comes out of his simulated game.

“If that goes well,” he said, “we’ll have a decision to make on when he comes back.”

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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