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Reds-Rockies game postponed by water main break

By WTOP Staff

PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — The sun was out and the sky was clear around Coors Field. So this was one unusual postponement.

The game between the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds was called off Saturday night because of a water main break just steps from the primary entrance to the ballpark.

It will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on Sunday. The first game will start at 4:10 p.m. EDT and the second at 9:10 p.m.

The Rockies originally said the game would be delayed 30 minutes, and that city officials were on their way to fix the issue. There were pools of water visible on the street and sidewalk near Blake Street.

Restrooms inside Coors Field were not working and there were only limited concessions as the water was turned off to the stadium. Yellow tape was put up to keep fans away from the street and police officers patrolled the area.

About 45 minutes after the scheduled first pitch, the Denver Office of Emergency Management requested the game be postponed.

“We were told no restrooms. No concessions. You have to have them,” said fan Don Evans of Denver. “Important parts of a game. They told us they’d have everything fixed.”

Stacy Chesney, a spokesperson for Denver Water, said a pipe installed in the 1900s ruptured around 7:30 p.m. EDT. She also said Coors Field was the only customer in the area without water.

“We’re working as fast as possible to get it repaired,” Chesney said. “We’re really sorry for the inconvenience to the fans.”

Water service was eventually restored to the stadium shortly after midnight, Denver Water later said in a statement.

All this with the sun out and the temperature in the high 80s.

“I wasn’t sure what was happening,” said Reds manager Bryan Price, who met with Rockies skipper Walt Weiss at home plate for several minutes before the game was scrubbed. “There was water on the road, and next thing they are calling the game.”

Rockies second baseman Josh Rutledge was just as stunned. He said it reminded him of a time when he was with the Tri City Dust Devils in Pasco, Washington, during rookie ball and a fire in the area interrupted a contest.

“But I don’t know if the game got canceled,” Rutledge said. “You can’t make this stuff up.”

This has simply been that kind of season for the Rockies. They’re last in the National League and in danger of losing 100 games for the first time in their history.

“Whatever can happen will this year,” Ryan Lewis of Billings, Montana, said. “I’d be surprised if we didn’t have a hurricane.”

The impromptu postponement did help out a few banged-up sluggers. Reds first baseman Todd Frazier was going to take a second night off with a strained lower back.

For the Rockies, first baseman Justin Morneau was a late scratch with a stiff neck.

HONORING HELTON

The Rockies will retire Todd Helton’s No. 17 in a ceremony Sunday. The longtime first baseman wrapped up his 17-year career in the Mile High City last season, departing as the franchise’s career leader in games played (2,247), hits (2,519), doubles (592), homers (369) and RBIs (1,406).

Helton will be the center of attention, something he never really craved during his career.

“He’s going to have all the eyes on him,” said outfielder Michael Cuddyer, who was activated off the disabled list Saturday after missing more than two months. “I know he’s going to feel awkward, but he deserves to feel awkward.”

Cuddyer firmly believes Helton belongs in Cooperstown.

“He’s a Hall of Famer,” Cuddyer said. “I’d put his numbers up to anybody’s. He’s up there with them.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: INF Brandon Phillips (left thumb) was 0 for 2 with a walk and played seven innings during a rehab game with Triple-A Louisville on Friday. Price wants to see how the rest of the weekend goes for Phillips before making any decisions on when he might rejoin the team. “We’re anxious to have him back,” Price said.

Rockies: LHP Franklin Morales missed his start Friday when his wife went into labor. Morales proudly announced his wife had a girl they named Mariana Elena. She was born at 5:37 p.m. Friday and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Mat Latos (4-3) will start the first game and RHP Dylan Axelrod the second. Axelrod is taking the place of Homer Bailey, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained right elbow.

Rockies: RHP Jordan Lyles (6-1) gets the ball in the afternoon contest and LHP Yohan Flande (0-5) will go that night. Flande will try for his first major league win in his eighth start.

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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