BY GREG GULAS
      Boardman News Sports
      bnews@zoominternet.net
      The FOG 58’s scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning last Tuesday to defeat A2Z and advance to the championship game of the of the Youngstown Old-timers 50+ Baseball League, Inc., double-elimination play-offs.
      The FOG will now meet Greenville at press time, a team that handed them their only setback of the post-season, 8-6, scoring three runs in the fifth inning to break a 5-all tie back on September 15.
      Greenville remains undefeated and in the winner’s bracket with the FOG needing to win twice coming out of the loser’s bracket if they expect to win the title.
      If a second game is necessary, it will be played on Thursday beginning at 5:15 p.m. at the Poland High Baseball Complex field.
      Jack Hay tossed a complete game, scattering eight hits, striking out one while allowing four bases on balls to pick up the win.
      Larry Yoho was saddled with the loss, going 5 1/3 frames, allowing two of the three FOG runs but just four of their seven safeties.
      “I felt like Mark [Cherol] and I were working in sync the entire game,” Hay said. “Their hitters battled but luckily our defense held tight and our offense came through in the end. It was a pretty good game overall and a nice win for all us old-timers.”
      The FOG took the early 1-0 lead in their initial at bat when Butch Angelucci led off with a single, advanced to second on Carmen Nocera’s sacrifice bunt, moved to third on Joe Kraus’ infield out then scored on Mike Homer’s single to left field.
      Three of the FOG’s seven hits in the game took place in the opening frame.
      While the FOG could manage just one hit and three base runners – all three runners were retired via infield double plays in the second, third and fourth innings – over the next three stanzas, Hay held A2Z at bay despite his opponent sending 14 batters to the dish over those same three frames, stranding five runners and 12 overall in the game.
      In the fifth inning, A2Z knotted the game at a run apiece when Ken Klinvex led off with a single, advanced to second on Bill Sattler’s walk with one a way then came around to tie the game on Terry Hogan’s two-out single.
      With darkness approaching, the FOG plated the game-winning runs in the sixth inning for a 3-1 lead and an advantage they would not relinquish the rest of the way.
      Kraus drew a one-out walk, went to second when Mike Homer followed with a base on balls then scored on Cal Baker’s single to left field for a 2-1 lead.
      The FOG extended their lead to 3-1 when Larry Kelly’s sacrifice fly sent Homer across the plate.
      In the seventh inning, Sattler led off and reached on an infield error and after Ron Pringle flew out to Angelucci in centerfield, Brian Wright hit into a game-ending double play that ended A2Z’s season and sent the FOG into this week’s championship series.
      “It was a nice, bounce back win from our tough loss last Thursday,” player-manager Jon Wallace added after the game. “This puts us in the championship round and we will need a solid, overall effort against Greenville. Our pitching is a little thin but we will just have to step it up. Jack [Hay] pitched a great game tonight against an excellent opponent and defensively we were solid. Our offense came alive at just the right time.”
      Baker led the FOG with two singles and a run batted in while Angelucci (run scored), Kraus (run scored), Homer (run scored), Terry Noble and Wallace registered the other five safeties, all singles.