LEESBURG, Fla. - With a berth in the Futures League Championship game on the line, the DeLand Angels prevailed over the top seeded Leesburg Thunder on Wednesday night, 5-3.

DeLand got on the board in the second as Leesburg starter Tucker Smith was snake bitten by two defensive errors, allowing the Angels to take a 1-0 lead.

The Thunder got even in the third as Jesse Getford reached on a double and later came around to score on a wild pitch. 

The 1-1 tie didn’t last long as the Angels responded with two in the top of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Jack Layrisson led off with a double and came around to score on an RBI single by Benjamin Rowdon. Garrett Capman added an RBI as well, singling to left field to bring in Chris Clayton.

Fast forward to the sixth, both teams scored as the Thunder cut DeLand’s lead to just one. 

The Angels scored another in the top of the inning to increase their lead to 4-1. In the bottom half of the inning, Leesburg got help from Aaron Simple as he doubled to bring in Bryson Tuttle to make it 4-2. Another run scored on a Getford sacrifice fly, bringing themselves to within just one.

Cameron White was unable to hold DeLand in the eighth as they added another, essentially putting the Thunder away.

Eight of nine starters finished with a hit for the Angels, with Thirus Jones leading the way with two RBI.