Chris Truby grew up with pro baseball in Hawaii, often attending the Hawaii Islanders' Pacific Coast League games. It fueled his passion for the sport, a passion the 1992 Damien graduate turned into a 16-year playing career and, now, a coaching one.

Truby returns home for the first time since 1995 as the hitting coach for the West Oahu CaneFires. West Oahu opens its Hawaii Winter Baseball season tomorrow at 7 p.m. when hosting the North Shore Honu at Hans L'Orange Field.

“;I lobbied for this (job),”; said Truby, who played third base for the CaneFires in 1995. “;It's exciting to be back. I feel like it's almost a paid vacation, having the daytime with the family and working with players.

“;This was one of the few times I had nothing to do in the offseason. Hawaii is an inviting place to come, no matter what line of work you're in. I grew up with the Islanders, and to not have pro ball out here is not right. It's awesome it's back.”;

The four-team developmental league features players from 23 of Major League Baseball's 30 teams, six Japanese pro teams and the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization. Among the high-profile players are four first-round draft choices, including Waikiki BeachBoys catcher Buster Posey, picked No. 5 overall by the San Francisco Giants.

“;I'm looking forward to the high level of competition that I've heard about,”; said Posey, who played at Florida State. “;It's a privilege to be out here.

“;For me coming out of college, it's a learning process. There are some big-time arms here and good international competition.”;

One major change this season is the 81-game schedule includes 23 dates at Les Murakami Stadium as well as 58 games at Hans L'Orange. Murakami, used by the HWB in the 1990s, was unavailable last season due to field renovation.

“;We're glad to be back at Murakami,”; CEO and founder Duane Kurisu said. “;MLB put up with us only being at Hans L'Orange last year because they knew it was temporary.”;

Kurisu said the marketing focus has changed from last season as well.

“;Last year it was all about marketing throughout the U.S. and Asia,”; he said. “;We're not pushing TV. We have our presence on the Internet.

“;We've decided to focus our efforts here in Hawaii, capturing the aloha spirit. It's what differentiates us from any other place in the world. The fact that youth baseball is now being played here year-round helps keep the interest in baseball and helps us a lot.”;

The league has to be certified every year. At the last MLB Winter Meetings, Kurisu said, there were “;zero complaints”; when HWB made its presentation.

“;There was only praise,”; Kurisu said. “;We have our staunch supporters and then there's a minority who want to keep their players closer to home. My feeling is if they want to come, then come. If they don't, then don't.”;

There are plenty of coaches and players who want to be here.

“;I'm excited for this opportunity and fortunate to be one of the managers,”; said Waikiki's Juan Bustabad, a manager in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. “;I had a couple of players who were here last season and told me how much they enjoyed it.

“;A lot of good players have come through here, including Ichiro (Suzuki, Hilo Stars 1993), Jason Giambi (Kauai Emeralds 1993). And there are a lot of top prospects here now. I'm looking forward to Saturday.”;

The BeachBoys open their season against the Honolulu Sharks at 7 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.