This time, the theme from "Rocky" fit perfectly. The underdogs had won the world championship and one player stood next to his kid brother, a Waipi'o baseball cap covering a 5-year-old head left bare by chemotherapy.

The song blared from a small speaker in the courtyard at Holy Family Catholic Academy this morning during a rally to honor Pikai Winchester, sixth-grader and member of the world champion Little League team.

Unofficially, the rally also celebrated his brother Paliku, who started his first day of kindergarten today, then took another treatment for lymphoma in the afternoon.

Paliku didn't speak, but both he and his brother were covered by lei and overwhelmed with posters and cheers from more than 600 schoolmates, teachers, friends and family.

A bright yellow sign with black and red letters proclaiming "Home of Pikai Winchester, 2008 Little League World Champ" was strung up over the courtyard entrance and the tetherball stands nearby had balloons tied to them.

At St. Louis School, the students yesterday gave a hero's welcome to Kainoa Fong on his first day at his new school. Helping with the welcome were Saint Louis students Sheyne Baniaga, Layson Aliviado, Vonn Fe'ao and Kini Enos — all members of the 'Ewa Beach 2005 Little League world championship team.

Fe'ao, who was 5-foot-7 and 149 pounds when he played for 'Ewa, is now a junior who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 205 pounds. As he watched the celebration, Fe'ao said Fong and his teammates can expect "a lot of attention and recognition" from here on out.

"The recognition for me is continuing to this day," he said.

At Mililani Middle School, a pep rally was held for Jordan Ulep and his name was put on the school's marquee. Trevor Ling's name was also put on the marquee at 'Aiea Intermediate and he was greeted by a small delegation.

At Holy Family, third-grade teacher Debbie Gibo said, "This team showed why you never give up even when the odds are against you."

She was referring to the team's improbable six-run rally in the last inning of their U.S. championship game against Louisiana and Waipi'o's domination of heavily favored Mexico in the World Championship game.

Pikai Winchester, peeling off layers of lei that rose above the top of his head, took a deep breath as he watched his little brother get hugs.

"I knew it would be something like this," Pikai said quietly. "But it's more than I expected."

Pikai entered the courtyard with his arm draped over his brother's shoulder and didn't take it off until classmates started presenting them with lei and gifts. Both responded with hugs and signed balls and signs.

"Last year I don't think a lot of people knew him because it was his first year here and he's quiet," said Keoni Inaba, Pikai's sixth-grade classmate. "Everyone will know who he is this year."

Keoni and Garrison Gabriel, another sixth-grader at Holy Family, said they've been talking to Pikai on the phone and watching Waipi'o's games on TV. The only change, they said, is he's a little more talkative.

"I called him (Tuesday) night and we talked about school, baseball, everything. It's pretty cool," Garrison said.

Rena Winchester, Pikai's and Paliku's mom, called the team's experience a dream.

"Now it's back to reality," she said, "but I'll always remember how good the fans here have been to us. During the U.S. championship when the team was down six runs going into the final inning and the fans started chanting Paliku's name, he was watching on TV and said, 'They're saying my name!' I lost it and just started crying. He was the team's good luck charm. Pikai wanted him to experience this because he may never get to."

Winchester said Paliku's chemotherapy is going well. He was first diagnosed with pre-B cell lymphoma cancer in February, just after his 5th birthday, after she found a lump on the back of his neck and his left armpit.

"He was in stage 2 so that's pretty early and it is treatable," she said. "He has to take chemo for 2 1/2 years and some days are better than others for him."

One of the worst days came when the Waipi'o team was at the regional tournament in California. Pikai called every night to check on his brother, but that night they couldn't tell him Paliku was in the hospital.

"We wanted him to keep playing and not worry," she said. "He would have wanted to come back home."

Tacked on a fence surrounding the Holy Family courtyard is a banner that says "Dedication."

It is the school's character word of the month and principal Christina Malins held up Pikai and Paliku as examples of the rewards that dedication can bring.

"It's a fitting reminder of how dedication helped this team find success," Malins said. "It's our privilege to have you as a member of our school community. Your school is amazingly proud of you."

At Saint Louis, school president Walter Kirimitsu asked something in return from Kainoa's fellow students, noting that the World Series tournament has left Fong "about three weeks behind in the academics."

"Give him a hand if you have a chance," Kirimitsu told the students gathered on the steps of Mamiya Theatre.

He exhorted the students to learn a lesson from the U.S. championship game, when Waipi'o trailed a Louisiana team by four runs in the top of the final inning and scored six runs in one of the greatest Little League World Series comebacks of all time.

"Never give up, never give up," Kirimitsu told the students.

---

Advertiser staff writer David Waite contributed to this report.