After starting the season with a win, the London Area Angels lost seven straight, including a home and home series with Listowel, in which both games went extra innings.

Looking to get back in the win column, the Angels hosted St.Thomas on a beautiful Thursday evening at Citywide Park in London. Starting pitchers (and former Byron teammates) Aiden Smith and Frank Maas pitched extremely well. Maas allowed one run over six innings before being relieved by Eric Ferguson. On the other side, Smith pitched nine innings and was charged with three runs.

The Angels scored single runs in the third and fifth innings, taking a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning. Eric Ferguson issued a lead-off walk to start the ninth and was replaced by Ryan Thompson. Thompson walked the first batter he faced but promptly picked off the runner at second base. On the next play, Angels short-stop Greg Hayden had to rush a slow roller to short and made an errant throw to first base, allowing the tying run to score. The Cardinals scored the go-ahead run when Freddy Farris hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Looking for the complete game win, Smith got the first out in the ninth before catcher Reid Thomas reached on a strike three pass ball. Reggie Taylor then flied out to right field but became the courtesy runner for the catcher. With Graham Dolbear at the plate, Taylor stole second and Dolbear hit a two-out single to tie the game.

The Angels kept St.Thomas at bay in the top of the tenth and before the bottom of the inning, Angels DH Taylor Jones could be seen gathering the players together, giving the team a motivational pep talk - knowing this was an important win for the team. Eric Ferguson lead off and hit a high chopper to short, which the charging short-stop had only one chance to make the play but could not come up with the ball cleanly. After a steal and a wild pitch, Ferguson was on third base with none out. Two batters later, Greg Hayden hit a fly ball to center field, on which Ferguson tagged and scored the game winning run.

It was a sigh of relief for the Angels, who have lost several close games this season. The Angels next game is a double header versus Ingersoll on Sunday at Dreamers.