WARNER — Things are going well these days for Kyle DeGrace of the Connors State baseball team.

He couldn’t always say that.

DeGrace leads the Cowboys with his 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, 41 runs scored and .457 batting average.

But he’s endured more than his share of tribulation, er, rehabilitation over the last three years. He first had a slight tear to his labrum — the cartilage around the shoulder joint — in his right (throwing) shoulder in spring of 2006 and then tore the anterior cruciate ligament on his right knee last fall.

“It was a rough two years,” DeGrace said. “A lot went through my head such as why is this happening. The positive I took from this is that I knew I could deal with it and I knew it was possible for me to come back. My love for the game kept me going.”

The shoulder injury kept DeGrace from going for awhile.

“I’m guessing it came from a lot of overthrowing,” he said. “I played a lot of positions when I was younger. I pitched and I caught. I guess it caught up with me.”

DeGrace had arthoscopic surgery to tighten up the cartilage. He recovered and had a good 2007 season for the Cowboys.

Then, he was out running in August and suddenly fell to the ground. The Toronto native knew something was wrong.

“It didn’t feel good when it happened,” DeGrace said. “I heard a pretty good pop and I knew I would be out for awhile.”

Connors coach Perry Keith knew DeGrace would return, though. DeGrace did when the Cowboys began practice in January for the current season, and it was all due to focusing on the task to get back.

“He could’ve given up but he’s never complained or said ‘poor, pitiful me,’” Keith said. “Kyle’s kept bouncing back. He’s a fast healer because he rehabs so hard. He works out a high pace and is fanatical about his rehab when most would’ve given up.”

Rehab isn’t quite finished. DeGrace came to Connors as a catcher and the 5-foot-11, 200-pound sophomore was put in the outfield at the outset of the season. He wants to get behind the plate again, but needs to improve the knee’s flexibility more.

“I really like it,” he said. “I think I’m a good defensive catcher. I like working with the pitchers.”

Keith, who has 1,169 career wins, said DeGrace will eventually catch again.