Leading off today: Lay teachers at 10 downstate Roman Catholic high schools are about to go out on strike after their latest round of contract negotiations with the Archdiocese of New York stalled, a union official said.

   It's unclear for the moment if the schools will have enough staff available to remain open and to continue their spring sports schedules.

   "We didn't want this to happen, but it looks like this is going to happen," Lay Faculty Association spokesman Henry Kielkucki told The Journal News, saying talks with the Archdiocese of New York had stalled over health care and other issues. Teachers could walk out on Monday or Tuesday, and the action would likely extend into the New York visit by Pope Benedict XVI set for April 18-20.

   The union represents about 450 teachers at 10 schools from Poughkeepsie to Staten Island, including Archbishop Stepinac, Maria Regina, Somers JFK, Burke Catholic and Poughkeepsie Lourdes.

   The teachers' contract expired Aug. 31, 2007.

   Milestones: Shannon Smith scored eight times to break the state record for career goals in West Babylon's 19-16 girls lacrosse win Thursday over North Babylon. Smith, who'll attend Northwestern in the fall, has 447 goals. The previous mark of 443 was set by Shari Maslin of Clarkstown North in 2002.

   Also on Thursday, Bob Hartranft picked up his 600th boys lacrosse victory with Farmingdale's 10-3 win over La Costa Canyon (Calif.).

   On the move: Hauppauge sophomore Stephen Dutton, a two-time state wrestling place-winner, has moved out of the district and will be attending Rocky Point, that shcool's coach told Newsday. Darren Goldstein said the Dutton family purchased a home within the district. Dutton is is 78-3 in the past two seasons, including 38-1 as a sophomore 130-pounder. "Stephen's work ethic is second to none," Hauppauge coach Chris Messina said. "He'll be a two-time state champion no matter where he is."

   Saratoga Catholic picks Mantia: JV coach Ken Mantia has been named to replace the retired John Catone as boys basketball coach at Saratoga Catholic. He is a 1982 graduate of the school.

   "This was the one position I would really ever be interested in," he told The Times Union "This school means so much to me and I have really never looked at other schools."

   Double duty: The Journal News followed back on Alex Ademi, the Iona Prep senior who can pitch with either arm.

   As a righty, Adami is a power pitcher who can throw in the mid- to high-80s while mixing in off-speed stuff. As a lefty, he mixes a mid-70s fastball with an effective curve.

   After consulting with his league's head umpire, CHSAA commissioner Wally Stampfel said Adami will not be allowed to switch arms during an at-bat, but can do so during an inning but without extra warm-up throws.

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