Shane Victorino gave Hawai'i a lot to cheer about during the Philadelphia Phillies' World Series championship season.

The cheers continued when the Gold Glove-winning center fielder was honored by Hawaii Winter Baseball before last night's game between the Honolulu Sharks and Waikiki BeachBoys at Les Murakami Stadium.

It was the 1999 St. Anthony graduate's first public appearance on O'ahu since his season ended. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Waipi'o Little Leaguer Pikai Winchester.

"It's nice to be able to come home and do something like this," he said. "It's an honor, not only for Maui, myself or my family, but for the state of Hawai'i."

It was a fitting honor because Victorino was raised on Hawaii Winter Baseball, as he attended many Maui Stingrays games when the league had a Maui team from 1993 to 1997.

"When I got to the minor leagues, I always hoped I'd have an opportunity to play in Hawai'i," he said. "When I heard they were bringing it back, I was excited."

Victorino began his professional career in 1999, when the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him out of St. Anthony. Hawaii Winter Baseball did not return until 2006, with no Maui representative this time around.

Although his postseason heroics were vital to the Phillies' success, Victorino downplayed his role.

"I just try to be myself and be the player that I am," he said. "Just go out there and work hard. That's what it's all about. I didn't want to be the hero. I just went out there every night to help my team."

Victorino will work out a couple days here before going to Maui to prepare for his fundraising golf tournament, Shane Victorino's A Round to Remember, Saturday at the Maui Prince Makena Resort. It is a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter. The cause hits close to home for Victorino.

"My mom's mother passed away with Alzheimer's (in the early 2000s)," said Victorino, who just attended his paternal grandmother's funeral on the Big Island about a week ago.

"My grandmother was struggling with Alzheimer's, and that was tough, so I felt I could give back. And they needed help, so I spoke with some of the people with the chapter here in Hawai'i."

Among the celebrities in the tournament are Victorino's teammates, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and first-baseman Ryan Howard, as well as some of Hawai'i's other big leaguers such as Oakland Athletics catcher Kurt Suzuki and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brandon League.

"This is where my roots are," Victorino said. "This is where I was born and raised, where I was grounded. Home will always be Hawai'i, even though I live in Vegas. I always want to come back and help."