Photo Gallery: A Special Opening Day For Watertown Youth Baseball

The grass was cut and green, the baseball lines wide and white, the pitching mound built up and the infield smooth as glass. Add a brilliant sunny early spring morning and mix in a few hundred young ballplayers and 150 volunteers and for a brief moment on Saturday, April 27, Watertown's Casey Field was the center of the baseball universe. 

For Greg Salvucci, who has been running the league for 22 years, this year was already special; the growing Watertown Youth Baseball League added two softball divisions for girls, a 13-year-old and 14- to 16-year-old divisions and a Challenger division, enabling boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4 to 18, to play ball, made possible through the support of the Mount Auburn Hospital.

But this year's opening day – with the yearly parade down Watertown Street, team photos and barbecue – was suppose to take place last Saturday, April 20.

"But that was too soon after what happened," said Salvucci, not needing to explain any further what not just Watertown but entire world knew. 

That Friday's shootout, lock down, manhunt and capture of the surviving terrorist of the Boston Marathon bombings brought the nation's focus on Watertown, "and it was not sufficient time for us to put the proper focus on the players. It would not have been about them last Saturday," said Salvucci.

So the celebration was postponed by seven days – although the season has already underway – and it was about as perfect as a Red Sox win.

Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau spoke about the strength of the town over the past week while praising his department and other first responders who were given game balls signed by the players.

Gov. Deval Patrick attended Opening Day and made a short speech on how the world got a glimpse "is how something affirming and powerful can come out of tragedy."

"I am so proud of all of you for showing what it means to have and be a strong community. Remember that in the days, weeks, months and years to come," he said, wearing a "Watertown Strong" baseball cap. He was then swamped for nearly 20 minutes with requests for photos and autographs. 

"What a wonder way to start the season," said Salvucci.