Shane Victorino is in the midst of a memorable November.

The Philadelphia Phillies center fielder just played in his second consecutive World Series. Unfortunately, the Phillies came up short to the New York Yankees in six games. In 2008, Philadelphia beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the title.

"For a second year in a row, to get there to the big dance ... This year it felt a little different," Victorino said yesterday during an interview at the Trump International Hotel & Tower Waikiki. "Last year, it was a little more pressure-packed. It was the first time there, but the second-time experience of being there made it a little more relaxing."

Victorino, a St. Anthony High alum from Maui, made the final out of the World Series on a grounder to second against Mariano Rivera in the host Yankees' 7-3 victory Nov. 4.

"I definitely didn't want to make the last out. Unfortunately I did, but what can I do?" said Victorino, who suffered a bruised hand after being hit by a pitch in Game 2.

On Nov. 11, Victorino won his second consecutive NL Gold Glove Award.

"I take a lot of pride in my defense," he said. "To me, you can never struggle on defense, meaning you can go 0 for 40, 10 for 100, whatever it may be, but you can never struggle defensively."

This past Saturday, Victorino married Melissa Smith at St. Anthony Church in Wailuku.

Celebrities at his wedding were Phillies teammates Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, MMA fighter Chuck Liddell and Jon Gosselin of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" fame.

"Everything went smoothly. It was definitely a wonderful day," Victorino, 29, said.

Victorino's family now includes a daughter, Kali'a, and a stepson, Keenan.

This Saturday, Victorino will go back to Maui to host the second annual Shane Victorino Celebrity Golf Classic at Makena Beach & Golf Resort.

Last year, the tournament raised $100,000 for the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter.

This year's beneficiary is the Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation with a goal of raising $120,000.

"How did it come to be? I felt like what else could I do in Hawai'i. And what better than golf?" Victorino said. "To go out there and play golf and enjoy the beautiful weather here."

The busy schedule seems appropriate for the do-it-all Phillies star known as the "The Flyin' Hawaiian," who has established himself as one of the best to ever come out of Hawai'i.

This past season, Victorino was voted into his first All-Star Game by the fans.

"It meant a lot to me to be voted in by Philly and people here in Hawai'i," he said.

Victorino finished as the only player in the majors to reach double figures in doubles (39), triples (13), homers (10) and steals (25).

"It means a lot," Victorino said. "To be the only one in the whole Major Leagues to have that feat, obviously it shows how hard work pays off."

Other former big leaguers from Hawai'i he's been mentioned with are Mike Lum, Lenn Sakata, Sid Fernandez and Benny Agbayani.

"It's definitely an interesting company to be a part of," Victorino said. "I never thought I'd be in that company to be known as one of the best players to come out of Hawai'i in baseball."

TARGET OF OTHERS

It's hard to explain, but Victorino always seems to be caught up in the middle of everything.

In Game 3 of the 2008 NL Championship Series, he was at the plate when the Los Angeles Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda threw a fastball over his head in the third inning.

Victorino shouted toward Kuroda, and pointed to his head and upper body as if to say, "hit me down here, not up here."

Victorino grounded out to first to end the inning, exchanged words again with Kuroda and the benches emptied. Fortunately, peace was quickly restored.

This past Aug. 12, a Chicago Cubs fan tossed beer on him in the fifth inning while he made a catch on the warning track at Wrigley Field.

Before the World Series against the Yankees, the New York Post's front page had a doctored photo of Victorino in his Phillies helmet, jersey and a red skirt with the caption "The Frillies Are Coming To Town!"

"You're just one of those guys," Victorino said. "Just like how I was in a skirt for the New York Post for the World Series. Why me of among the guys on my team? I don't know. That's just the way things work out. But for me, I don't let those things bother me. I just want to go out there and play."

GIVING BACK

Scheduled to play in Saturday's golf tournament are Howard, Tadd Fujikawa, Derek Tatsuno, Raeceen Woolford, Mark Rolfing and Neil Everett.

"No, I'm not really good at golf, but I like to have fun and enjoy," Victorino said. "As long as all the people there enjoy and have a good time and enjoy the day of golf and spending time with friends and family."

This past season, Victorino won the Lou Gehrig Award, which honors a player who best exemplifies the Yankee great's character and integrity both on and off the field.

Victorino has done work for the Philadelphia Futures, a program that helps inner-city kids go to college, and the Special Olympics in Philadelphia.

"That meant just as much as anything else," he said. "To be known around the community as a person to give back. That says a lot about what I do off the field, and being rewarded with that award means a lot. It's an honor and an award I'd like to win annually if I could."

In early August, Victorino donated $10,000 to the HHSAA's Save Our Sports Fund, which is raising money for financially strapped local public high school athletic programs.

HE'LL BE BACK

Victorino played Triple-A baseball in Las Vegas in 2003 and 2004 while in the Dodgers organization.

He met Melissa during a game in Las Vegas.

"Her son ran onto the field with us (before the game)," Victorino said. "In fact, (current Phillie) Jayson Werth was rehabbing in Triple-A. Keenan, my stepson, ran out with him to left field. I was in center field. I had another kid with me.

"When we ran out there I saw my (future) wife standing above the dugout taking pictures of the kids and stuff like that. And I said, 'Wow, that's a pretty good looking girl,' and the rest is history."

The Dodgers drafted Victorino in the sixth round of the 1999 Amateur Draft out of St. Anthony High.

Victorino, who also spent time in the San Diego Padres organization, signed with the Phillies in 2005.

Victorino bought a home in Las Vegas in 2004, but says he'll return to Hawai'i when he retires.

"I come home as much as I can," Victorino said. "Hawai'i is Hawai'i. It's going to be here and when it's all said and done with, when I'm done playing baseball, I plan to retire here."