It was a mixed bag of emotions tonight at NYSEG Stadium.

Fans were excited to see their Binghamton Mets play ball at their home opener.

But many are still mourning in the aftermath of the American Civic Association shooting.

As Action News Reporter Reed Buterbaugh tells us.

The B-Mets hope they can help the community, move beyond the tragedy.

Bouncing with enthusiasm young B-Mets fans found the winter wait was too long.

"I'm excited because it's my first time coming to a mets game in about a year," Devan Taylor of Johnson City said.

"I'm really excited because I think that they could go all the way this year," Austin Tanner of Binghamton said.

But the game started on a somber note with a moment of silence for the victims of the attack on the American Civic Association.

The century-old game has gotten America through wars, attacks and the Great Depression..

These fans hope it can do it again.

"Baseball is America's pastime so when something like that happens we do things in the community to rebound," Malcolm Barreiro of Binghamton said.

"I think it could provide a good escape for people to take their mind off what's going on and I think it helps to bring people from different cultures together in one place," Julie Salerno of Norwich said.

Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski threw out the first pitch.

And he's been humbled by how the city has embraced him.

"The response has been unbelievable. People walking up to me that I don't know," Zikuski said. "Hugging me thanking myself and the Binghamton Police Department for the great job. So we really appreciate that."

The chief is optimistic the B-Mets can help distract the community...

Even if it's only for nine innings at a time.

"Things like this, you know baseball in Binghamton, this is great," Zikuski said. "It's at time that people just came out for a while and they could just put things out of their mind and enjoy themselves."

Hopefully Zikuski's right.

And the B-Mets help to lift people's spirits.

Taking on the road to recovery, one base at a time.