Bureau homers off light pole; Vikings return home with a bang

East Lyme — Let the record show that the first home batter in the first home baseball game in five years Wednesday hit a home run off the light pole in right field, the ping of the bat and crack of the ball off the wooden pole becoming the soundtracks to a memorable day in East Lyme baseball history.

The author of the rocket to right, senior John Bureau, becomes part of Viking lore and legend now, helping East Lyme celebrate its return home with an 8-1 win over Old Lyme.

"A top three home run here in my mind," East Lyme coach Jack Biggs said. "Obviously we hadn't played here in a long time and to begin that way was amazing. It's funny. We’ve been telling the guys that if they hit the same balls at home that they did at (spacious) Bridebrook (Park), we’ll be celebrating a lot more. John rounds third and goes, ‘you were right coach!’"

Bureau, headed to play at UConn Avery Point, drove in three runs and added an RBI double.

"That was amazing," Bureau said. "I was rounding the bases thinking, ‘God it feels good to be back at this place.’ Just such a great feeling."

Later in the first inning, Owen Elmer drove home Gavin O’Brien with an RBI single giving East Lyme a 2-1 lead at the time. That's all winning pitcher Alex Dreyfus needed.

Dreyfus pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts against the Wildcats, a team that's 14-5 with a legitimate chance to win the Shoreline Conference and be a factor in Class S.

"Sometimes I get bored out there (in the outfield) when Alex pitches," Bureau said. "Definitely a guy with a low ERA."

Santiago Rodriguez hit an RBI double in the first for Old Lyme.

O’Brien hit an RBI triple for East Lyme, while Nathan O’Neil and Blake Biggs were on base three times apiece and combined to score three runs.

The Vikings (16-3) end the regular season Friday at Bacon Academy. The ECC tournament begins next week with three rounds to be played at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, including the finals next Friday.

"This day was for everyone who is here now, the guys who got to play half a season here once and everyone ever to play here, honestly," Jack Biggs said. "A very special day."

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