Little League Honoring Watertown's First Responders During Opening Ceremony

The parade and opening ceremony for Watertown's Youth Baseball and Youth Softball leagues had been scheduled for last weekend, but the tragedy and chaos of the Boston Marathon Bombers manhunt meant it had to be postponed.

The celebration is back on, and it will include a salute to the Watertown Police officers and firefighters who took part in the first shoot out with the bombing suspects in the early hours of April 19.

"We want to thank and recognize them for what they have done," said Greg Salvucci, president of Watertown Baseball and Watertown Softball. 

He has invited the seven police officers in the gun battle and two firefighters who helped save the injured MBTA officer. 

"We will have game balls for them and have made up special T-shirts for them," Salvucci said.

Along with the first responders, Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau will attend the ceremony, along with Watertown's elected officials, and possibly other special guests.

The day starts with a parade of players and coaches at 8:30 a.m., which ends at Casey Field, on Watertown Street. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m.

At about 9:15 a.m. on Saturday April 27, the program's new Challenger League, for special needs children, will be introduced. Then there will be games until about 8 p.m., Salvucci said.

Games include the minor and major league baseball teams, as well as girls softball - which is in its second year.