The "Lefty" Story

It was an ordinary day. And then Carol nudged me. Early morning, and it was time. Our first child was on the way. He was 26 days late. Not quite sure how that happened, but it happened. And he was big, 8 lbs, 15 oz. Will always remember the time and date without having to ask my wife. Derek Charles Woods came into the world at 3:28 PM on March 28 (3/28). Carried Carol's dad's name as his middle name. Deliverd at St. Joe's Hospital in Lancaster with Carol's dad waiting with me. Wasn't allowed in the delivery room back then so I had to wait in the waiting room. Then I saw them wheeling Carol and Derek down the hall. Carol was radiant and Derek was the neatest kid I had ever seen. For months he suffered with colic and I would walk him constantly around our dining room table to help ease his stomach pains. You could see the path on the carpet from the hundreds of trips around the table. He grew up on Janet Ave. He started in the "baby's room" and was moved to the 2nd bedroom when our daughter Brynn was born, and finally moved to the 3rd floor when his brother Tad was born. He and Tad eventually shared the large bedroom on the third floor. Since my passion is baseball, Derek had a ball in his hands when he was in his infant's seat. Could really throw, also. He threw everything when he was younger; balls, rocks, cherry bombs, eggs, get the idea. He always seemed to be in trouble because of one of his two best traits: his ability to throw things and his honesty. Always told the truth. When Derek was about 12 he came home with a brand new softball. "Where did you get that," Carol asked him. "Oh, Mr. Bianci our neighbor gave it to me. Told me to use this instead of throwing rocks over our roof," he replied. Seems some of the rocks may have found a home in his yard. Other stories will go untold! Derek loved vacations with the family. Yearly trips to the bay were some of his favorites. He had very good mechanical ability and was learning to enjoy photography. But, like me, his passion was baseball. We would spend endless hours in the back yard throwing the ball and perfecting his delivery. A "lefty" with sneaky speed. By the time he started Little League he was dominating on the pitching mound. By high school he was the pitcher the coach would put in when he needed a win. Still holds many of his high school records. Villanova University awarded him a full-paid scholarship to play Division I baseball. In his freshman year he came down with mono during Christmas break and spent a few days in the hospital, but still managed to have the 3rd best ERA in Division I when he returned. He did fall three innings short of the required minimum innings pitched to qualify for any award. In his sophomore year he led the Wildcats to the Big East Title, beating St. John's in the championship game. Arm injuries in his senior year cut his playing time and career short. He managed to get his degree in Psychology with a minor in criminal justice from Villanova in 1993. A proud moment for Derek and his family. The family was there to watch him receive his degree. He worked a variety of jobs after graduation and is currently a pressman in charge of running a web press for Donnelly Printing in Lancaster. In 2003 Derek met a girl by the name of Barbara who worked with him at Donnelly. Not long before they fell in love and were married. He found a real sweetheart in his new wife. Five years ago they had a son, my grandson, Caden C. Woods. He is the love of their life, as well as ours. They do everything with him just as Derek's family did everything with him when he was a child. And Derek still loves the times we get together now to travel to the Jersey shore for vacation. Must be hereditary. And .... we couldn't be more proud of him. Love U. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Pixs from the top are a young Derek at the beach, Derek with his brother Tad and sister Brynn at the shore, pitching for Villanova, in the center of the photo holding his diploma after graduation at Villanova, Derek with Barb and Caden and Uncle Derek being one of the kids during vacation at the Jersey shore.