It’s just another scorching Sunday at Sand Island.

That means Shearyna Labasan is working up a sweat under the mid-day sun. The Maryknoll ace pitcher and clutch hitter would spend her one free day of the week doing something a little less taxing — but this is life when a hobby happens to be a passion.

Aside from school work — and a 3.9 grade-point average — National Honor Society and Maryknoll’s Ambassadors program, life is simple and fulfilling for the talented junior.

"She’s a homebody, that’s what the mom tells me," Spartans coach John Uekawa said. "She likes to study and play softball. I’ve been telling her take up another sport like paddling, but she’s so focused."

Wherever she goes, often enough mom and dad are nearby. Mom is the former Shari Kahana, an all-state pitcher for Leilehua in 1988. Dad is Vince, who played a lot of baseball back in the day before he met his high school sweetheart.

That means working out with Shearyna, the oldest of three keiki in the family. And right now, she wants to master her change-up.

"The funny part is, when she first started playing softball (at age 8), she had two left feet," her father said. "I thought maybe she’ll be academic, but she has a big heart. She worked for what she’s got. She was determined to get better."

Labasan was a catcher when she began, but since mom was a hurler, the daughter followed.

"Her demeanor — nothing fazes her, nothing bothers her. She has the same exact thing I think I had back then," Shari said. "They can hit all the balls they like, we can walk all the batters, but nothing is going to change her demeanor."

The Spartans were 7-1 and ranked No. 2 in the Star-Advertiser Softball Top 10 until last week. Close losses to Kamehameha and Mid-Pacific have since altered the complexion of the ILH race. Three state berths are available in a league with five teams in the Top 10.

Something’s gotta give. But it won’t be Labasan easing up. The talented freshmen of two years ago have grown up.

"We’re winning a lot more games. The team mixes well and we’ve got a lot more talent this year, too," she said.

Labasan has the mix: fastball, screwball, curve, drop and riser. She considers her change-up a work in progress, but Uekawa marvels at the arsenal she already has.

"Her change-up is devastating. This year it’s amazing. It’s made her a complete pitcher. I want her to throw it more," he said.

Since starting as a freshman, Labasan’s ascent has sparked the Spartans. A year ago, as a sophomore, her fastball was clocked at 58 mph.

"She’s been working out a lot. Now she’s at 64 mph, consistently 61 or 62. Our pitching coach (Steve Carlos) clocked her a couple of times at 64," Uekawa said.

In those first eight league games, Labasan was 7-1 with a 0.32 ERA, 56 strikeouts in 49 innings with 20 walks. At the plate, she’s hitting .458 with an on-base percentage of .583, plus five RBIs and eight runs scored (including those by courtesy runners).

"Of course, she’s well known for her pitching, but she’s as good as a hitter as a pitcher. She is a clutch hitter," Uekawa said. "She’s very mature for her age, she just knows. She has, the word would be savvy. I can look at her and she knows what I’m thinking. She’s like a coach on the field. She’s special in that way. Born leader. Leads by example."

Labasan probably would prosper in any environment, but she enjoys the comfort zone of her school.

"As an ambassador, we help with students touring around. Maryknoll is a really small, close-knit, family-based school. If you come here, you get to know everyone. You’re not a number. You know pretty much everyone in the school and the teacher," she said.

Back at the batting cage and practice mound at Sand Island, where the Maryknoll softball ohana has built a field of dreams out of practically nothing, Labasan enjoys the day off — fine-tuning.

"I’m trying to get my motion to flow more and not be so stiff on it," she said of the change-up. "It’s way better than last year."

She toils away. On the mound. In the batter’s box. In the classroom. Studying late night at home. A league title is in view. So is a perfect (4.0) GPA. It’s the little defeats that help drive her motor, like the B in advanced U.S. History class. Or the ILH playoff loss to Punahou, which went on to win the state crown.

She enjoys the time spent on those long daily commutes from Mililani to town. Her parents are in charge, no question, but at times it feels like they’re best friends with their eldest daughter. Labasan thinks their relationship has endured for one reason. "They talk to each other a lot," she said.

Not long from now, college will be her new world.

Shari Labasan, the former Leilehua ace, counts her blessings.

"It’s been real easy. No problems, no issues. Sometimes I feel like she’s not normal because it’s too easy to raise her. Everything was always positive. She’s always the kid everyone wanted," she said. "Her heart sometimes is so big, it’s unreal."