In the world we live in it’s often hard to find good things and good news but let’s close out the month of January with a couple of positive items.

(L-R) Incoming BlueClaws General Manager Brandon Morano and Geoff Brown, the outgoing GM who is taking a position with the Rutgers athletic department.
(L-R) Incoming BlueClaws General Manager Brandon Morano and Geoff Brown, the outgoing GM who is taking a position with the Rutgers athletic department. (Kevin Williams, Townsquare Media NJ)
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The Lakewood BlueClaws did not have to look hard to find a replacement for the only general manager in the history of the minor league baseball team.  Just a week after it was announced that Geoff Brown was leaving to take an athletic administration position at Rutgers University, the BlueClaws named Brandon Morano as his replacement.

Morano has been with the BlueClaws since before they played their first game and had served as Brown’s assistant since 2006.   A shore-area native and Rutgers graduate who lives in Brick with his wife Amber and son Brandon Jr., Morano assumes the GM responsibilities immediately and is fortunate in having a front office staff that has for the most part been together for years.

Sunday’s Super Bowl will feature a halftime show by Beyonce and the national anthem sung by Alicia Keyes but don’t be surprised if the singing group that receives the largest ovation is made up of 26 children.  The chorus from Sandy Hook Elementary School will sing “America the Beautiful” as part of the pre-game show which will be broadcast live by CBS.

The school in Newton, Connecticut was where 20 children and six adults were killed in a shooting rampage in mid-December.  Reports indicate that an anonymous donor will help make the trip to New Orleans possible for the students and family members.

Two Ocean County basketball standouts became members of their schools 1,000 point clubs this week.  Lakewood’s Tyrice Beverette needed 24 points and scored 24 in the Piners win over Central Tuesday night to reach the milestone and on the same evening Central’s Rachel Iozzia became just the fifth female in school history to surpass 1,000 in the Golden Eagles victory over Lakewood.

Among those on hand to congratulate her was Berkeley Township Police Chief Karin DiMichele, who was Karin Kane when she scored over 1,000 points before graduating from Central in 1989.

The Shore Conference Wrestling Tournament resumes tonight at the top four seeds: Toms River South, Brick Memorial, Jackson Memorial and Howell. Most expect those four to advance to the semis and finals Saturday at the Pine Belt Arena.

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