UNC's Tim Fedroff keeps a piece of NY with him at all times

By Nicki Jhabvala

Tim Fedroff carries one thing with him whenever he steps foot on a baseball diamond: a scoop of dirt from Yankee Stadium.

What's the lump in Tim Fedroff's back right pocket? A bag of dirt from Yankee Stadium, of course. UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

"I actually have it in my back pocket," he said. "I'm from New Jersey, so I'm a huge Yankees fan. After the games I'd sneak down, and if you get the right person working security, just go down with a little Ziploc bag, ask 'em to give you a handful."

To Fedroff, a freshman outfielder for the North Carolina baseball team, Yankee Stadium dirt is not just any dirt. It's a piece of sacred land.

"I've been doing it for years now," he said. "I just don't feel that comfortable if I don't have it in there."

And judging by his performance last weekend, apparently it's also a good-luck charm. In his first career start as a Tar Heel against Stony Brook on Feb. 24, the freshman centerfielder clocked a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning - two innings after he got his first single for an RBI and a stolen base.

About two hours later, in the second game of a doubleheader, Fedroff repeated his 2-for-3 batting stat with a triple in the second inning and a single past the Stony Brook second baseman in the sixth.

Four-for-six, two RBIs, a triple, a home run and a stolen base - not bad for a frosh.

"We got a bunch of good freshmen," UNC junior Reid Fronk said. "He's [Fedroff] gonna be a great player here at Carolina, but it was nice to see him get off to a good start, hit that home run. I talked to him a little bit before the game. I was just kind of like, 'Timmy, man, this is your big day.'"

After the Tar Heels' series against Stony Brook, Fedroff worked his magic in the team's mid-week game against Coast Carolina on Feb. 28. With UNC trailing for the first four innings, Fedroff clocked a solo homer over the centerfield fence to tie the game 2-2, sparking the Heels' rally for a 4-3 win.

Although the Tar Heels are only nine games into their 56-game regular season, it seems the sixth-ranked freshman class is as-advertised, especially Fedroff.

Maybe it's the Yankee Stadium dirt in his pocket.

Maybe it's the A-Rod-Jeter scuffle, which Fedroff claims "people are a little to hard on (A-Rod)" that has him upset and taking his anger out on his opponents.

Maybe it's the notion of the Yankees' spring training about to get underway without Bernie Williams on the roster.

Or maybe Fedroff doesn't need any Yankees magic or motivation and is just that good.