SAN MARCOS -- On the Palomar College softball team, Jade Fa'asua is known for her quiet leadership, loud bat and integrity.

But the 21-year-old soft-spoken Samoan is more than that: She is a lifesaver.

Fa'asua gave up most of her freshman season a year ago to participate in a bone-marrow transplant that saved a baby's life.

Because of privacy issues, the only thing Fa'asua knows is that she helped a 1-year-old boy suffering from a rare genetic form of blood disease. She doesn't know the baby's name or in what state he and his parents live.

She only knows that the baby is doing well thanks to her gift.

"This is no big deal," said Fa'asua when approached to talk about the experience. "I don't see it as anything heroic."

I disagree. She is someone special.

"It took a compassionate and thoughtful person to do what she did," Palomar coach Scia Maumausolo said.

The National Marrow Donor Program contacted Fa'asua after she gave blood during her senior year at El Camino High to help a fellow student who was diagnosed with leukemia. The organization was seeking a donor for a patient they thought she might match.

Fa'asua, knowing such a donation would jeopardize her freshman season at Palomar, shared the information with her family. Her mother, Easter Fa'asua asked her, "Jade, is this something you want to do?"

Jade's answer was quick and to the point: "Mom, this is a no-brainer. This is someone's life."

It says a lot about Fa'asua's character. She was looking forward to being coached by Mark Eldridge, one of the game's top coaches, who retired at the end of last season. Plus, a season not playing at the junior college level could impact her chances for a scholarship at a four-year school.

But there are some things bigger than sports.

"When I decided to do the marrow, all I could think about is how my family would feel if it was my son or if it was me or someone in my family, like a cousin," Fa'asua said.

The bone marrow transplant required Fa'asua to make numerous trips to Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla. Doctors first gave her shots to build up her immune system, then extracted blood for the marrow match.

The procedure sapped Fa'asua's strength. She would try to keep up in practice, but she would run out of energy.

"I really didn't think about my season or the team. I was thinking of that little boy," she said.

One day after practice, she called her teammates together and told them what she was doing.

"I knew I was going to miss a couple of practices or be late, so they deserved to know," she said. "When I told them about it, they understood. I also told my team and my family that I'm going to need you to pick me up, and they did."

Her family ties are strong. During Saturday's first-round Southern California Regional playoff game against College of the Canyons, more than 30 members of the Fa'asua family were camped out in right field -- not only supporting Jade, but her sister Jerica, cousin Sipau Lee-Noa and the rest of the Comets.

Jade responded with two home runs and six RBIs. During Sunday's dramatic 6-4 win, which featured Ginalee Davis' two-out, walk-off home run, Fa'asua went hitless.

For her, it didn't matter because her team won, allowing her to play at least one more week with her friends.

"I've made so many lasting friendships with my teammates," she said. "These friends will always be important to me."

Someday, she hopes to make friends with the little boy whose life she saved. Does she think that will ever happen?

"I think so. I really want to," Fa'asua said. "I just released my information, so they can contact me if they want."

As for her own future, Fa'asua, who carries a 3.0 grade-point average, wants to become a psychologist. She would love to go to the University of Hawaii.

"My aunt took me there when I was in the seventh grade, and I fell in love with it," Fa'asua said.

Hawaii or any other school would be missing out if they didn't grab this modest, talented pillar of strength.

Steve Scholfield is senior sports columnist for the North County Times. He can be reached at (760) 740-3509 or stevescho@cox.net. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.