Troy Besterci noticed something wasn't quite right with his right shoulder after his American Legion baseball season ended last summer.

It didn't give him problems in the fall while on the field for the Plum varsity football team, but continued discomfort in the shoulder led Besterci, a senior at Plum, to get it checked over the winter.

An MRI revealed a partial tear of the labrum in the shoulder.

"It didn't bother me in football season because with pads, I never got into a range of motion and rotation to the point where I would feel it," Besterci said.

"I would feel it with the over-the-top motion of throwing a baseball."

The right shoulder is his throwing shoulder. Surgery would've meant close to six months of rehab and would have kept him out of sports this spring and cut into the first part of his freshman season on the Robert Morris University football team.

Without surgery, Besterci said, he would've been relegated to only designated hitter work on the Plum varsity baseball team, where he's a multi-year letter winner.

After much thought, Besterci decided to forgo his final year on the baseball team and try his hand, or rather, feet, at track and field.

"I had to make a tough decision, and I went with something new," he said.

Besterci has won consistently in both individual and relay events.

At Friday's Baldwin Invitational, Besterci won the 200 dash with a school-record time of 21.77.

"Troy joined the outdoor team and worked hard from day one," said Joe Ionta, Plum head coach. "He's done everything you could ask. He's studied how he can improve himself and has also studied his opponent. He's a competitor."

Besterci is ranked in the top five in WPIAL Class AAA in the 200 and is gunning for good things at the WPIAL individual championships on May 15 at Baldwin High School.

"Troy is a great baseball player," said Joe Ionta, Plum head coach. "He could've just put his head in the sand and quit, but he was determined to run track and do the best he could. He's now one of the best sprinters in the WPIAL. That's a tribute to Troy's determination and work ethic."

Besterci, who ran on the Plum indoor track team the past two seasons, also is a big part of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

The 4x100 quartet of Besterci, Michael Adams, Jeff Robinson and Steve Spokane placed third in the event at the Pine-Richland Invitational with a time of 44.34.

The 4x400 of Adams, Dave Kalatshoff, Besterci and Mike Hemmerle finished second with a time of 3:32.65.

"When I decided to do track, I wanted to do something to stay active and in shape and get a little faster for football in the fall," Besterci said.

"As the season went on, I started running better. I wanted to improve every meet. Things have kind of fallen into place."

Besterci wasn't the only Plum athlete to set a school record at the Pine-Richland Invitational.

Robinson won the 100 dash and set a new school mark with a top time of 10.63.

Also taking first for Plum on the boys side were Kalatshoff in the 110 hurdles (14.65), Hemmerle in the 300 hurdles (39.56) and Zack Taylor in the pole vault (13 feet).

The 3,200 relay of Bryce Rupp, Galdo, Nate Andrew and Nate Thompson took sixth (8:35), while Denny Lydon earned an eighth-place medal in the 3,200 run (10:26).

On the girls' side, Stef Ramirez claimed the top spot in the 100 hurdles (15.29) at the Pine-Richland Invite and added a second in the 300 hurdles (46.21).

Kara Weichler tied for second in the 800 run with Mt. Lebanon's Becca Robbins. Both had times of 2:25.01.

Also earning individual medals were Lexie Walla in the pole vault (second, 9 feet), Uche Ezekoye in the high jump (fifth, 4 feet, 10 inches) and Julie Frank in the discus (eighth, 87 feet, 9 inches).

The 3,200 relay of Nicole Nicolette, Amanda Mazzenga, Rebecca Blauch and Missy Fratangelo was eighth with a time of 11:39.

The Plum Football Alumni Club is hosting a golf outing on June 21 at Rolling Fields Golf Club.

The event benefits both the Plum football team and the William B. Rometo Sr. Scholarship.

The cost per individual is $70 and a foursome is $280.

For more information, call 412-798-6306, e-mail plumfootballalumniclub@yahoo.com or check out www.plumfootballalumniclub.com.

Golf pass

Do you need a nice gift for Father's Day or for your favorite graduate?

For amateur, recreational and avid golfers alike, the American Cancer Society 2008 Golf Pass could be the answer.

For a minimum donation of $30, the Golf Pass provides a free round of golf or a golf discount at more than 100 participating golf courses in Pennsylvania.

Some of the courses participating in Western Pennsylvania are Champions Lake Golf Club, Conley Resort and Seven Springs Resort.

The fair market value for the 2008 Golf Pass is more than $3,000. Some restrictions apply.

The Golf Pass can be ordered through any local American Cancer Society office or by calling 888-227-5445.

Quantities are limited.

The American Cancer Society also is looking for assistance in selling the Golf Pass.

Those who sell five passes receive a free Golf Pass and those who sell ten will receive two free Golf Passes.

Basketball tourney

All Sports Tournaments will host a spring basketball tournament in Monroeville for girls and boys in grades four to 11

All AAU and school teams are welcome with at least three games guaranteed.

The Hotshotz Monroeville Classic at the Monroeville Sports Center will be May 30 to June 1.

For more information or to register, call 412-952-8021, e-mail arb6010@comcast.net or visit www.allsportstournaments.com.

Engel victorious

Jim Engel claimed victory last week in the Monroeville Par 2 Golf Courses Golf League after firing a 29-under par 79 in the three-round tournament.

He was followed by Don Mathews (81), Gerald Vick (83), Ken Hastings

(84), Craig Williams (84) and Walter Kizzie (95).

For more information, contact Monroeville Par 2 Golf Courses at 412-373-0063.