Leading off today: Goalie James Maxwell stopped a point-blank shot with eight seconds to go to cap Hamburg's come-from-behind, 6-5 boys lacrosse victory yesterday against host Amherst.

   Hamburg is ranked fourth and Amherst ninth in the most recent New York State Sportswriters Association Class B ratings.

   Amherst carried a 4-1 lead into the third quarter. It was 5-3 in the third quarter before midfielder John Crean scored twice, and then Chris Feuerstein connected for the winner with 1:49 left.

   Maxwell finished his day with 10 saves, while Amherst's Connor McNally made 13 stops.

   Auburn bats erupt: Liverpool, ranked fifth in Class AA, had its eight-game baseball winning streak snapped by Auburn at Falcon Park, 8-3.

   The Maroons posted four first-inning runs on six hits that included a run-scoring triple by Ed Charles. The Maroons' Steve Komanecky went the distance, allowing five hits, striking out eight and walking six after being staked to a 7-0 lead.

   Kris Catino had three hits and two RBIs for Auburn (12-3).

   McQuaid coach dies: Longtime Rochester-area track coach Tony Canali died Saturday from complications of leukemia. He was 60.

   The former Canandaigua coach was most recently a guidance counselor at McQuaid, where he coached cross country and track and field. He was named the Democrat and Chronicle boys coach of the year last month after guiding McQuaid to its fourth sectional indoor track championship in five years.

   "He could get the most out of any athlete he worked with

because the kids know that he believed in them so much," McQuaid AD David Spiehler told the paper.

   Basketball meeting Friday: The NYSPHSAA boys basketball committee meets Friday in Albany, with discussion of a recent National Federation rule change on instant replay likely dominating the conversation.

   The National Federation over the weekend gave state associations permission to use instant replay in certain situations -- such as potential game-winning buzzer-beaters -- in championship games.

   Based on previous discussion of the topic, New York committee coordinator Bill Higgins is expecting a close vote by committee members. Members of the organizations comprising the Federation tournament will vote separately at a later date.

   Best spring job: "I've coached football, basketball and volleyball in my career," Mike Mostransky told The Journal News. "Practice in golf is a little more pleasurable than in those sports. When you can go out and play golf with the kids, it's such a nice experience."

   Mostransky has coached Brewster for 39 years, and its perks like playing some of the nicer courses that keeps many gold courses coming back year after year.

   Though the rules prohibit coaches from assisting players during a match, there's nothing to stop them from playing nine in between making rules interpretations.

   "On a slow day, you're going to take advantage of playing, and for good reason," Westlake coach Lou Gaudio said. "You're going to have two-and-a-half to three hours to kill. Since you can't coach the team, you play a few holes."

   Extra points: Union-Endicott will name its track at Ty Cobb Stadium in honor of Mike Miller on Friday. Miller taught and coached for 34 years at U-E.