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An All-Sun Belt Conference selection each of the past two seasons, Ridings was drafted in the 25th-round in last year's MLB draft. Despite this Ridings opted to return to campus for his senior season and anchor the WKU pitching staff as they compete for another Sun Belt title. Check out his blog here.






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PING!BASEBALL SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW
Nate Freiman
Duke University Blue Devils

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.

PREVIOUS PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS

2010
A.J. Kirby-Jones Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Akeem Hood North Carolina Central Eagles
Alex Pracher Stanford Cardinal
Christopher Manno Duke Blue Devils
Collin Cargill Southern Miss Golden Eagles
George Springer Connecticut Huskies

Will Gowdy *

OBU Tigers
Coach Dave Schmotzer * Coker Cobras
Blake Forsythe Tennessee Volunteers
Matt Purke TCU Horned Frogs

* - DII
2009
Matt den Dekker Florida Gators
Geoff Parker Florida State Seminoles
Chris Dominguez Louisville Cardinals
Nick McCully Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Matt Carpenter TCU Horned Frogs
Mike Roberts Columbia Lions
Bradley Logan Georiga State Panthers
Christian Bergman UC Irvine Anteaters
Matt Otteman UT Arlington Mavericks
Matt and Rich Gedman Massachusetts Minutemen
Jace Brinkerhoff and Billy Burgess Utah Valley University Wolverines
Kyle Roller East Carolina Pirates
Joey Bergman and Jesse Simpson College of Charleston Cougars

DII

Matt Cotellese West Chester Golden Rams
Mike Adams Franklin Pierce Ravens
J.D. Martinez &
Michael Fiers
Nova Southeastern Sharks
Kevin Pillar &
Phil Van Doren
Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros
Jordan Schmitt Abilene Christian University Wildcats
Tim Freshour Shippensburg Red Raiders
Ryan Kirkman UNC Pembroke Braves

 

Previous Years

2008
Tommy Medica Santa Clara Broncos
Jeremy Hamilton Wright State Raiders
Kyle Bellows San Jose State Spartans
Mike Ford and
Mario Hollands
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Alex Buchholz Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
Will Delawter UMBC Retrievers
Brad McElroy Charlotte 49ers
Ross Humes Washington State Cougars
Gary Novakowski
and Tom Koehler
Stony Brook Seawolves
Asher Wojciechowski The Citadel Bulldogs
Mitch Harris Navy Midshipmen
Conor Gillaspie Wichita State
Xavier Scruggs UNLV
Christian Friedrich Eastern Kentucky
Adam Zornes Rice Owls
Adam Warren North Carolina
Scott Eckard, Kyle Bowley
& Andrew Runion
USC Upstate Trojans
Joe Godri Villanova Wildcats
Kyle Russell Texas Longhorns
Clay Whittemore Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Andrew Means Indiana Hoosiers
Nate Freiman Duke Blue Devils
Jason Buursma Bucknell Bison
Chris Shehan Georgia Southern Eagles
Ed Mathey Northern Illinois Huskies
K.K. Chalmers Memphis Tigers
Trey Sutton Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
Michael Rockett Texas San Antonio Roadrunners
Brett Nommensen Eastern Illinois Panthers
George Brown St. John's Red Storm
Buzzy Haydel LSU Tigers

DII

Scott Savastano Franklin Pierce Ravens
Michael Brzezinski St. Mary's Rattler's
Erik Lovett Mount Olive Trojans
Andy Kampsen Northern State

 

2007
Jordan Pacheo
& Ian Hollick
New Mexico
Scott Simon
& Matt German
Northern Illinois
Matt La Porta Florida
Bryan Rembisz
& Kyle Henry
Vermont
Michael Arensdorff
& Zach Rodeghero
Valparaiso
T.J. Baxter
& Matt McKissick
New Orleans
Craig Brookes
& Steve Gerstenberger
Michigan State
Robbie Rowen
& Marcus Wynn
Long Island
Devin Thomas
& Jeff Deitz
Brown
Ryan Langlais North Dakota State
Kellen Kulbacki James Madison Dukes
Curt Smith Maine BlackBears
Austin Krum Dallas Baptist Patriots
Matt Cusick Southern California Trojans
Pat Venditte Creighton Bluejays
James Simmons UC Riverside Highlanders
Tony Campana Cincinnati Bearcats
Clint Robinson Troy Trojans
David Wood Texas State
Kraig Binick New York Institute of Technology Bears
Brendon Hitchcock Binghamton Bearcats
Brian Rike Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Arik Hempy South Carolina Gamecocks
Tyson Brummett UCLA Bruins
Matt Hauge
& Curt Rindal
Washington Huskies
Robbie Widlansky Florida Atlantic Owls
Parker Dalton Texas A&M Aggies
Greg Sexton William and Mary Tribe
Joe Savery Rice Owls

PREVIOUS COACH SPOTLIGHTS

Scott Norwood Arkansas Little Rock Trojans
Scott Forbes North Carolina Tar Heels
Rob Childress Texas A&M Aggies
Joe Litterio Wagner Seahawks
Lelo Prado South Florida Bulls
Brian O'Connor Virginia Cavaliers

DII

Murphy Su'a Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros
Rudy Garbolosa Lynn Fighting Knights
Todd Wilkinson Barton College Bulldogs
Stan Sanchez Colorado State University - Pueblo

2008
George Horton Oregon Ducks
Nick Restaino Fordham Rams
Dan Callahan Southern Illinois Salukis
Mervyl Melendez Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Rob Walton Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Mike McRae Canisius Golden Griffins
Frank Leoni William & Mary Tribe
Brad Hill Kansas State Wildcats
Jim Toman Liberty Flames
Vance Law Brigham Young Cougars
Buddy Bolding Longwood Lancers
Dan Heefner Dallas Baptist Patriots
Mike Gillespie UC Irvine Anteaters
Mike Batesole Fresno State Bulldogs

 

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