Even though Adrian Morales wasn’t the biggest offensive threat or the most intimidating third baseman from a stature standpoint, junior college transfer LB Dantzler had huge shoes to fill.

Junior third baseman LB Dantzler

Morales was one of the emotional leaders of the team. While Dantzler isn’t necessarily expected to fill that void, he was brought in to provide some offensive punch to the South Carolina batting order.

So far, he’s been successful. But that was just during intrasquad scrimmages. Now, the lights come on and it’s time to perform in front of 8,000 fans on opening day.

The left-handed slugger was pitched four questions and rifled back four answers just before the start of the 2012 season.

Your power has been very impressive since your arrival, especially this preseason hitting five home runs in nine games. Have you always been a home run hitter?

“In high school, I was a four-home run guy my junior and senior year. I hit just one my freshman year of college. Last year was the first year I’ve had kind of been looked at as a power guy. I would still consider myself a doubles guy. I don’t consider myself a power hitter.”

Where did the extra power come from? Was it extra time in the weight room or did the ball just seem to start going farther out of no where?

“It was really just balls that were one-hopping walls started carrying out. It was nothing I consciously did. I don’t know if I figured something out, but balls that weren’t going out just started going out. I don’t really know.”

What kind of emotions are going through your head right now with your first game at South Carolina just hours away?

“It’s going to be real hard to focus in class. It’s more excitement than anything. It will be tough to sleep tonight. I’m not nervous, don’t feel any pressure, but I’m just excited to get here and take BP. The first inning may be a little nervous, but once you get that first ground ball and at-bat, it just becomes baseball again.”

Do you have any special game day superstitions? Anything before the first game of the season or anything you have to do before every game?

“I don’t do anything in particular. Maybe there are some things that happen for two or three days, but nothing that I always do.”