Standing at 6'8", Duke junior first baseman Nate Freiman is one of the most imposing presences in the ACC when he steps up to the plate. However the Wellesley, Mass native is more than simply a welcome source of shade on a hot Carolina afternoon. Last season the Wallace Award candidate led a retooled Blue Devil attack which nearly doubled their win total from the previous season, finishing at 29-25, a dramatic jump up from a 15-40 finish in 2006.

Last season Freiman lead Duke with a .369 batting average (80 hits in 217 at bats) and tied for the club lead with seven homeruns and 48 RBI to capture the Blue Devil triple crown. He also added 19 doubles to complete his sophomore campaign with a robust .553 slugging percentage.

The Blue Devils as a team had their best season since 1998 and one of the top campaigns in team history. Duke started the season with a magnificent 15-1 run and finished their out of conference schedule at 21-3. Their conference victories included an 8-5 triumph over top ranked Florida State, a 9-3 win over second ranked North Carolina and a pair of victories over top ten Virginia. Duke also earned wins over NCAA teams Albany and St. Johns.

Duke aims to improve in 2008 and with another strong performance by Freiman they'll be well on their way. The Blue Devils also boast an exceptional young pitching staff led by a trio of sophomores in Michael Seander (1.61 ERA, 9 SVs, Freshman All-American), Michael Ness (4-3, 4.97) and Will Currier (4-0, 3.51), along with Freiman’s roommate, junior Andrew Wolcott (4-3) who could have the Devils back into the ACC Tournament.

Before taking on all-comers, Freiman took some time to answer a few questions from Ping!

PING!: I wasn't able to find your major online. What are your current interests academically?

Freiman: I'm a history major, concentration American History, with a math minor. The math is pretty hard but it's different.

PING!: Despite a 29-25 record which almost doubled your 2006 win total and included victories over North Carolina , St. John's, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Florida State, the Devils flew under the radar last season without garnishing too many national accolades. Is this the year the Duke baseball program gets a little more hoopla?

Freiman: I think we have a chance to have a really good season this year. Last year we started off 15-1 and ended up 21-3 in the non-conference. Our goal this year starts with making the ACC tournament, which is absolutely within this team's capability.

PING!: In just two years, Coach McNally has turned the team into a force to be reckoned with every time they take to the diamond. What kind of changes has Coach McNally implemented to make Duke a team to be reckoned with?

Freiman: First and foremost, Coach McNally has assembled a great staff. Also, Coach McNally emphasizes things that we can control that give us a margin against other teams: baserunning and defense. Pitching and hitting are huge parts of the game, and he is great at teaching hitting, and Coach Snedeker is incredible as the pitching coach, but baserunning and defense are two things that are entirely up to us each day. He loves working with infielders, and all the infielders have improved tremendously under him. Also, we have two great outfield coaches in Coach Boggs and my former teammate Coach Anderson.

Also, Coach has really made it clear that being a baseball player at Duke is something in which we should take a lot of pride. He has impressed on us that we have a great opportunity: take advantage of it.

PING!: Coach McNally has put a big emphasis on academic performance and community service. How has that affected the team and chemistry among your teammates?

Freiman: This team is the closest group to which I have ever belonged. We are constantly together: practice, study hall, community service. We spend so much time together that there is outstanding chemistry between all four classes. Also, the grades themselves have risen sharply in the past three years. People are understanding that being successful in the classroom is indicative of a lifestyle that will translate into success on the field.

PING!: How would you describe this year's Duke baseball team in six words?

Freiman: Ready, excited, passionate, close-knit, loose, determined.

PING!: The knock against the Duke basketball team going into this season was that they were too small to compete for the title. At 6'8" you'd be one of the tallest players on the roster. Has Coach Krzyzewski approached you yet about putting on some short shorts and sneakers and hitting the hardwood?

Freiman: He hasn't, and all it'd take to keep it that way permanently would be for me to take some shots in front of him.

PING!: Which member of the Duke pitching staff are you glad you don't have to face during the season?

Freiman: I hate to say it (because if he ever reads this I will never hear the end of it) but Andrew Wolcott, my roomate for two years. He's a big tall guy who throws downhill with tail in to a righty.

PING!: With the Hollywood writer's strike I'm even more ready for the baseball season to start. One can only watch American Gladiators and Deal or No Deal so many times. Which on hiatus TV program have you been missing the most?

Freiman: That's a good question, most of the stuff I watch on TV is sports, I guess. There are definitely a lot of people on the team looking forward to new episodes of The Office. My roommate has an Office calendar hanging in our room.

PING!: Is it just me or would baseball, especially college baseball, be better with cheerleaders?

Freiman: We might have to ask the people watching about that one.

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