NASHUA – It’s amazing that Kyle Brigham has been able to shoulder such a load for the Daniel Webster College baseball team.

That’s because that shoulder sometimes feels like it’s on fire.

Brigham is suffering from a torn labrum, which makes it even more incredible that he’s played through it all season well enough to be named the New England Collegiate Conference Player of the Year and help guide the Eagles into their second straight NCAA Division III tournament.

All the former Alvirne High School standout did as a sophomore was lead the Eagles in hitting with a .368 average, along with eight doubles, six triples and 29 RBI in 38 games.

“Kyle Brigham is hands down the best player in the league,” Eagles coach J.P. Pyne said. “And the way he gets pitched to in the three hole for us – I think in 18 league games he maybe saw 18 fastballs all year. And to put up numbers, to play the defense that he does, he steals bases (14 in 16 tries).

“But the most impressive thing Kyle’s done – the numbers, the defense, the base stealing and all that (aside) is the torn labrum.

“every day it hurts him to practice. It needs to be fixed. … He’s grinded it out for two years. It’s one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen.”

Brigham first separated his shoulder while playing at Alvirne, and had it operated on in his junior year. But then he dove into a bag and re-injured it his senior year with the Broncos. He played hurt his freshman year at DWC but didn’t have the surgery after last season due to insurance issues that have since been cleared up.

“It’s been a ride, to tell you the truth,” Brigham said. “There’s days I come (to practice or games) and feel I can throw as hard as I can and it won’t even hurt. Then the next day just picking up a baseball would hurt my shoulder.”

In fact, Brigham doesn’t throw in practice. If the Eagles can lift him from a game early they do, and he doesn’t like to DH. But, as Pyne says, the amazing thing is “his ability to black it out and play.”

He won’t take a cortisone shot, but relies on over the counter pain medicine instead. He is looking to have the second surgery to repair things once and for all over the summer and be ready, hopefully, for the start of next year.

Last year Brigham played through it and won conference Rookie of the Year. And this year he’s just forging ahead.

“I’ve always told coach I’m just going to go out and play,” Brigham said. “I love it.”

Even with the pain.

“If he swings and misses at a certain pitch, if he fouls a pitch off, if he has to make an awkward throw,” Pyne said, “I can see (the pain) when it happens.

“I always say, ‘I’ve got to get you out’ and it’s ‘No coach, no coach.’”

Brigham loves playing for the Eagles, and he was also surprised at being named Player of the Year.

“I was in shock,” he said. “Last year was different. The pitchers, coaches didn’t really know who I was. This year hitting was a lot harder.”

Especially with the sore shoulder.

“There’s one spot,” he said, “that I’m not going to say, that I don’t swing at. There’s one spot, if somebody throws it there, I’ll take it for a strike every time.”

One wonders if he can dominate the NECC like he has playing hurt, just what the heck type of damage to opposing pitchers could Brigham do healthy?

“I can finally get that fixed and play comfortably,” he said. “It’s been a battle. I’d say it’s worth everything.”

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