In the 11th inning of North Carolina's Omaha-opening game against Cal State Fullerton, the catcher dropped two potential third strikes and committed a throwing error that allowed the Titans to move the potential game-tying run into scoring position.

So it was no surprise that Carolina pitching coach Scott Forbes, who also works with the Tar Heel catchers, was out of the dugout screaming at the Apex native with two outs.

It's what he was screaming that might have been a surprise. Rather than blasting the freshman, Forbes had only encouragement.

"Let it go!" he said. "Let's move on."

At that point, Federowicz, nicknamed "FedEx" by his teammates, had plenty to forget. He was 0-for-5 and feared he had just allowed the Titans to win the game. But reliever Matt Danford, a Broughton High product, wriggled out of the jam.

And in the top of the 13th, with Carolina nursing a 6-5 lead, Federowicz's RBI single provided an important insurance run.

That's the kind of year it's been for Federowicz, who also got an encouraging smile and a pat on the helmet from head coach Mike Fox after the torturous 11th.

On Monday night, the Tar Heels dropped a 3-2 decision to Oregon State and fell short of winning their first-ever College World Series, losing the best-of-the series 2-1.

Sunday night, the Tar Heels blew a 5-0 lead and dropped an 11-7 decision that evened the series. Federowicz went 4-for-4 with a two-run double and a two-run homer. His four RBI moved him to third on the team with 62 for the season.

"I saw the ball well," he said. "Somehow I knew what pitches were coming. Everyone calmed down after we got the big lead and then we were on cruise control. Then they just came back."

But North Carolina has advanced to the College World Series title in part because of Federowicz's strong freshman play.

He's consistently been among the top three Tar Heels in batting average with runners in scoring position, and he ranks among the team leaders in hits.

Collegiate Baseball selected him a freshman All-America and he was also invited to the 2006 USA Baseball National Team Trials.

"It was a big adjustment at the beginning of the year," said Federowicz. "It was tough learning you can see a curveball in any count and seeing breaking stuff all the time. But I had a really strong midweek game and I started to really feel aggressive and confident."

FedEx Delivers

Staff photo by Grant Halverson

UNC freshman Tim Federowicz blasts a home run during an NCAA subregional game against Winthrop in Chapel Hill

Defensively, he's been half of a bedrock catching duo with sophomore Benji Johnson. The Tar Heel coaches love Federowicz's cannon arm -- he may get work as a pitcher before his Carolina career is over -- and say his game management skills are progressing well. He'll get even more work on that aspect of the game this summer.

If he doesn't make the national team (the final roster will be announced July 2), he'll play for the Chatham A's in the prestigious Cape Cod League.

"Both our catchers have been a huge boost for us defensively," Forbes said. "All our pitchers have to do is get the ball home somewhat quickly and they know we'll throw runners out.

"We play a lot of teams that like to run, and Tim and Benji allow our pitchers to focus on the hitters rather than the running game. They're good enough defensively that we can throw dirt balls with two strikes and the pitchers don't have to wonder whether they'll get by the catcher."

Those dirt balls are especially tricky when thrown by Carolina's duo of first round picks, Andrew Miller and Daniel Bard.

"Those two guys are amazing to catch," Federowicz said. "They have so much movement on the ball and they can put it anywhere they want."