For the first time since last fall ... Downtown Fresno's Chukchansi Park welcomed eager baseball fans Friday night. The Grizzlies home opener had a standing room crowd of more than 13,000 people.
An exciting night for fans started with a somber moment.
Six Fresno County Sheriff's Deputies stood at the pitcher's mound to honor the two law enforcement officers killed in a shootout in the small town of Minkler on February 25th.
All of them risked their lives that day; including Deputy Mark Harris ... who was also shot ... he threw out the first pitch ... which prompted the entire stadium to stand up and cheer.
A fighter jet flyover also honored the fallen officers.
Grizzlies organizers say they hope to give fans a little of everything this season ... and that they couldn't think of a more fitting way to do so.
The Grizzlies beat the Portland Beavers in dramatic fashion.
