Many times, it’s not how a team starts, but rather how it finishes.

For a few moments Wednesday afternoon, it seemed like Bradford High was going to let a three-run lead in the top of the seventh slip away, effectively washing away a stellar start by junior starting pitcher Danny Manion.

But then Owls head coach Andy Carlson called freshman Peyton Manion to the rubber with the bases loaded and one out. A few pitches later, the younger brother induced a flyball and then a soft infield grounder to save Danny’s start and cap off a 3-1 opening-day victory over visiting Brookville at Callahan Park.

“I had all the confidence in the world. I told him that,” Carlson said about handing the ball to Peyton. “I said, ‘I’m putting you in because I have confidence in you to get this done’. He’s going to be a fantastic player both for us in the field, he had a double for us and came in to get the big save. He’s going to be a really good player.”

Danny Manion got the Owls off the field quickly in the top of the first, as he struck out the side. He struck out seven, walked three and gave up just one hit in his five innings of duty on the mound.

“Danny is going to be our horse,” said Carlson, the Owls’ first-year skipper after taking the position late last season. “He throws strikes. There’s no emotion. Whatever happens, happens. He just keeps throwing pitches. He battles. That’s all I ask for is guys who battle and go out there and throw strikes.”

Danny Manion’s pitching –– he was perfect through two innings –– helped the Owls get in position to score runs with some timely hitting and slick baserunning. In the second inning, Peyton Manion hit a leadoff double and two batters later Kyle Kirk ripped another deep double, scoring Manion.

The Owls then used a double-steal to force a throw to second while Kirk, who had moved up to third on freshman catcher Caleb Nuzzo’s groundout, was able to score.

The only problem for Bradford High? That wasn’t the sign.

“The double steal was a missed sign,” Carlson said. “It’s one of those thing where if you’re living well, everything works out for you. We can’t miss signs because that’s going to cost us again once we start playing better competition. Brookville is a very nice team, but once we start playing our district games, we’re going to pay for it when we make those mistakes.”

Bradford added a third run in the fourth after Kirk walked, moved to second on a balk and then scored on a flyball error off the bat of leadoff man Hunter Gray.

Thomas Guay started the sixth inning for the Owls and induced two groundouts and a popout to second, but ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh.

Brookville’s catcher Ben Caun started the inning off with a single, while Aaron Park followed with an double. After a walk, the bases were loaded but a wild pitch let Caun score from third to cut into the Owls’ lead at 3-1.

Another walk re-loaded the bases, but then Carlson called Peyton Manion to the hill. The final two outs were recorded with a freshman battery –– Manion on the rubber and Nuzzo behind the plate.

Kirk reached base in all three plate appearances, adding two walks and a steal in addition to his double.

“Kirky is a great athlete,” Carlson said. “Everybody knows that around here. I told him when he hits, he’s going to play. He drove a ball three-quarters of the way out there to the fence to get us going, get us on the scoreboard. All he needs to do is hit. He’s going to help us out a lot.”

Gray also reached base three times, singling, reaching on an error and walking. Brookville pitchers issued six free passes on the day.

As for Carlson’s plan moving toward the end of the week, the Owls are prepared to play wherever and whenever. Wednesday’s game was originally set to be played in Brookville, but was then moved to Pitt-Bradford and finally Callahan Park.

“Our plan is to come here tomorrow and practice,” Carlson said. “We’ll get ourselves ready to go on Friday. We’ll figure out pitching and we’re figure out who’s going to play where.”

AT BRADFORD

                                        R H E

Brookville 0 0 0 0 0 0 1   1 3 1

Bradford   0 2 0 1 0 0 x   3 4 0

Bryan Dworek (4 SOs, 4 BB), Dane Lyle (4) (2 SOs, 2 BB) and Ben Caun

Danny Manion (7 SOs, 3 BB), Thomas Guay (6) (1 SO, 2 BB), Peyton Manion (7) and Caleb Nuzzo