PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

4. NORTH CAROLINA (54-15, College World Series runner-up).

Conference/Projected Finish: Atlantic Coast/2^nd (22-8, 2^nd in 2006).

Coach: Mike Fox (341-160, 8 years).

First Game: Feb. 16 vs. Seton Hall.

OVERVIEW: With four significant exceptions, notably twin first-round pitchers Andrew Miller (13-2, 2.48) and Daniel Bard (9-4, 3.64), the Tar Heels return the same team that made a spirited run to a College World Series title a year ago before finishing second. Steady Robert Woodard (7-1, 3.43) will anchor a depleted rotation, while junior SS Josh Horton (.395-7-59), junior1B-3B Chad Flack (.384-13-68) and sophomore C Tim Federowicz (.320-12-62) anchor an offensive attack that returns nine of the top 10 hitters.

X-Factor: The Tar Heels biggest and only significant challenge will be replacing Bard and Miller. The first options are 6-foot-5, 195-pound red-shirt sophomore RHP Luke Putkonen (6-0, 3.08), a potential second-third round pick in this year’s draft, and top freshman recruit Alex White.

TOP FRESHMAN: Alex White, rhp. A 14^th-round pick of the Dodgers in last year’s draft, he would almost certainly have gone in the first two rounds had he been more signable. A 95 mph fastball and a hammer curve are White’s primary weapons.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Tim Federowicz, c-rhp. Federowicz could see double duty for the Tar Heels, working behind the plate and spotting regular closer Andrew Carignan (2-3, 3.21, 15 SV). The 5-foot-10 Federowicz didn’t pitch at all a year ago, but Team USA coaches couldn’t resist auditioning his 95 mph fastball last summer with impressive results.

TOP JUNIOR: Josh Horton, ss. The lefthanded-hitting Horton hit third in the order and led the Tar Heels with a .395 average last year. A consensus second-rounder, he could move up a round with steadier defensive play and proving to scouts he can swing a wood bat with more authority than he did last summer in the Cape Cod League.

TOP SENIOR: Robert Woodard, rhp. With only a mid-80s fastball but a dazzling changeup, Woodard has nowhere near the raw stuff Miller and Bard possess, but he often outpitched his more celebrated teammates over the last two years. Few college pitchers have better command or greater pitchability.