AD Varsity Athlete of the Year: Alex Tanner

She can dig it out, set it up and spike it down with the best of them on the volleyball court.

She can dribble, defend, score and rebound on the hardwood.

But if you really want to see Alex Tanner shine, just put a set of spikes on her feet, a glove on her hand or put her at the plate with the game on the line.

She's proved it in two counties — at Marysville and River Valley Highs — and at a young age.

"I started playing tee ball when I was five and played Little League my whole life basically," the 2010 River Valley High graduate said. "I played a year of soccer and didn't really pick it up so I figured it wasn't for me, but softball was something I fell in love with at an early age."

It wasn't the only sport Tanner fell in love with.

No matter if it's on the court or on the diamond, Tanner's hustle, drive, competitive spirit and leadership ability made her one of the most dynamic athletes in the Mid-Valley over the last four years — and even longer.

She's been in the Appeal-Democrat archives since her Little League days playing at North Yuba and her exploits eventually extended onto the track where she won the 100-yard dash, standing long jump and the softball throw at the Hershey Track and Field Meet as a 13-year-old in 2005. "I wanted to run track and play softball in high school, but they wouldn't let me," Tanner said. "It was a bummer. I mean, how sick would that be to be a four-sport athlete?"

Although she started playing volleyball her sophomore year, Tanner tied for the team lead with 1.5 kills per game and led the Falcons with 51 digs.

In basketball, she was a virtual one-gal fast break on offense as well as a tenacious defender, leading River Valley in both scoring (11.6 points per game) and steals (2.3 per contest).

She was also second on the team in assists with 1.7 per game and her 5.0 rebounds were third on the team. Not bad for a guard who knows only one way to play — full speed.

"Softball can slow down at times, but basketball is intense, and I like it because it's fast-paced," said Tanner, who admitted her play may warrant a refs attention. "Nothing pumps me up like getting a steal. To steal the ball and take it all the way with everyone behind you — there's nothing like it."

But where the 2010 Appeal-Democrat All-Area female Athlete of the Year truly took over was on the softball diamond, where her excellent range, solid glovework and quick release at shortstop made her one of the area's best players.

Her versatility was also on display at the plate, where she led the Falcons with a .371 batting average, while posting a team-high 36 hits. She showed power from the right side of the plate, but the skill of switching over to the left side and slapping to beat out singles is what jump-started the Falcons' offense and made them a Tri-County Conference power.

"I just started slapping two years ago, but I have always liked trying something new and different, so it was something that I was excited about," said Tanner, who added that her experience playing the game for years paid off this season. "I feel like I was still learning in basketball and volleyball, but I'm so familiar with softball. Summer ball, fall ball — I'm always playing it."

Her speed came into play on the basepaths too, as she stole 29 in 34 attempts.

"Baserunning is my favorite part," Tanner said. "I love diving for anything, for a ball or to just get back to a bag. It's always been my favorite part of the game."

She committed only six errors in the infield for a team that went 20-9 and finished one game short of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III title game. She also came up big when it mattered most by going 2 for 4 and scoring two runs in River Valley's 3-1 victory over TCC nemesis Pioneer in the playoffs.

"The game against Pioneer felt more like a championship game," she said of the big win. "It was a nice way to finish. First of all we won, which is always nice, and not only did we make it to the playoffs, we were the first team ever from River Valley to get out of the first round."

A coach who influenced her a lot was Ryan Heasty, her basketball coach at Marysville High. At first she was a little apprehensive of Heasty's coaching style, but over time she learned to respect the way he motivated her.

"The hardest part was leaving him and that team," Tanner said of the transfer from Marysville across the bridge to River Valley. "He pushed me and became my mentor. He showed me to use my leadership skills and I am grateful for that."

Her leadership was embodied this year when she was named team captain in all three sports. It was no small feat for a player who had to make friends while adapting to a new school.

"Switching high schools your senior year is something I wouldn't recommend to anybody," she said. "It was scary, but I'm happy with the way it worked out. I met so many new friends and it actually turned out to be a better experience than I thought."

As for her favorite sport?

"It's hard to answer that question," she said. "Whatever sport I'm playing at the time is the sport I love the most."