The disability didn't deter him from playing youth baseball in Markle, Ind., however. And it was largely through sports that he overcame a budding inferiority complex.

"Being on teams helped,'' said Woodward, a standout on Coastal's 50-12 club that will play North Carolina in the Super Regional at Cary this weekend. "It was my way of getting to meet people. They looked at me as one of their own instead of a kid with a disability who couldn't do anything. I accepted who I am."

And who is Woodward?

A versatile 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete who took a swing at one of life's curveballs and knocked it out of the park. He also played football (all-state defensive back) and basketball in high school before specializing in baseball.

Going into the best-of-three Cary Super Regional, the redoubtable freshman is leading Coastal in hitting (.368), on-base percentage (.539) and stolen bases (42).

Not that baseball has been all hits, runs and fun for Woodward, who has helped the Chanticleers achieve their third 50-win season in the past four years.

Although he wears the hearing aid in his right ear, there were some miscommunications on the field as Woodward -- a recruited outfielder -- worked at second and third base.

"We had to learn how to coach him, learn how to be attentive,'' said veteran coach Gary Gilmore, who developed some hand signals. "I had never coached anybody with a hearing impairment. Getting him in [position] between pitches ... it took awhile. It was a major learning experience."

But Gilmore wouldn't trade Woodward for ocean front property at nearby Myrtle Beach, S.C.

"I've had eight or nine major league guys, and he has as much God-given ability as any I've ever coached," Gilmore said. "He's a freshman who plays like a four-year veteran. To achieve what he's done and play two positions he's never played in his life is [remarkable]."

Woodward also is one of the team's most popular players, who tunes in or tunes out teammates and jokes with them about what he's hearing.

After getting a hit or making a play at third, Woodward says he hears cheers from Chanticleers fans, who also applaud him with sign language.

At one road game, an opposing crowd was heckling him but wasn't getting under his skin.

"A [teammate] told 'em, 'Hey guys, you are wasting your time. He's deaf.' It took the wind out of their sails,'' Kevin Woodward said.

During a telephone interview, Scott fielded questions on a speaker phone. Text messaging is the way he communicates most.

Deciphering information in class is another daunting task. But Coastal advisers "stay close" to help meet his needs, Kevin said.

Woodward, a sports management and recreation major, ultimately hopes to play big league baseball. The game is his passion.

And this weekend he just wants to help the Chanticleers beat North Carolina, an opponent they defeated 11-4 earlier this spring at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.

"We want to make a name for Coastal Carolina baseball,'' Woodward said.

The Chanticleers have championship ingredients that include solid pitching from players like Joey Haug (6-0, 2.09 ERA), Nick McCully (10-2, 3.09), Bobby Gagg (6-2, 3.33) and Cody Wheeler (6-0, 5.21).

The lineup also features seven players batting .340 or better, including sluggers David Anderson (20 homers), David Sappelt (18) and Dock Doyle (16). That's the group that battered East Carolina 24-11 to win the Conway (S.C.) Regional on Sunday.

Beating North Carolina is a bigger task. But don't tell Woodward any challenge is too big. He doesn't want to hear that.

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