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Local girls form a killer combination on the softball diamond 'The Battery' Teir teammates already have a name for the connec- tion Waterloo's Natalie Becker and Carly Cameron share on the softball field. They're simply known as "the Battery." That's not battery in the sense of the Energizer bunny or anything like that, although you have to wonder with Becker's abili- ty to keep throwing and throwing despite pitching in multiple games. In fact, Becker started seven of the eight games her Brantford Bobcats team played at last week's ILS. National Softball Association's class "A" girls softball World Series tournament in and around Char- lotte, N.C. And catching every one of those games was battery-mate Cameron. which helped earn them the nickname. That "Battery" helped the Bob- cats earn a berth in the finals of the M-and-under bracket at the tour- nament where they faced the Florida state champions. the Coral Spring Panthers. The girls had beaten the Panthers 8-0 in the round robin. and pitched two strong games against the Panthers. with Becker firing strikes and Cameron laying down the signs. But they came just short of making history as only one of two Canadian teams in the field of 88 prequalmed teams from the us. The Bobcats had two lives to live in the finals, after finishing the round robin undefeated, but came up short in a 2-0 and 2-1 loss to the Panthers. But no one should feel son-y for these girls who capped off a settsa- tional run with the Bobcats last year by winning an Ontario and Canadian title. and played for the Ontario championship again this civic long weekend. By BOB Vanna»; t1trottic_left_aff, So what's the secret to their suc- cess? The girls say it's communica- tion. They are best friends on and off the field, and have come up with their own sign language when a certain pitch needs to be called. Carly Cameron and Natalie Becker have formed a formidable pitching and catching tandem on the softball field that has seen them win Ontario and Canadian titles. Their most recent accomplishment was a silver medal at the World Series of softball in the us. as one of only two Canadian teams in a field of 88 clubs. "Because we're best friends out- side of softball helps a lot with the game," said Cameron. "We under stand what we're trying to do together. "And we don't disagree too often." They just look at each other and - know what each other is thinking on thefield with a simple shrug or a nod. If -WW they don't get the right pitch one-halfof"thelhanery" called, a subtle gesture known only SPORTS "We make up a signal that only the both of us know, and we'll start laughing at something stupid. We just have a good time on the field to them is all they need to do to blow the next one by the latter. _ "That's left a lot of people guessing" said Becker. "There's no way ghey cap sgeal signs" . Although, that almost subcon- scious communication has gotten the two 15-year-olds in trouble sometimes when Cameron flashes a sign that has Becker double-over in laughter. Not all signs are soft- ball signs and they can cause each other to break out in laughter. which isn't something the oppos- ing batter always appreciates. Especially if they've just struck out. "Thef usuaily Gy things after about how mad they are," said will H.010 “mum cumulus Wednesday, August a 2907 . " Cameron. “I've seen a lot of batters corkscrew themselves right into the ground." "We make up little signals that only the both of us know," said Becker. "and we'll Stan laughing at something stupid. That's because in addition to their own secret code, Becker also has a special weapon in her arse- nal of pitches. It's not just that she's a lefty, although it can give some batters fits with the way she throws a ball. It's a change-up that both drops and curves. "We jugs! have a good time on the tieldd' How can a pitch both drop and curve? Shouldn't that be impossi- ble despite all the gravitational forces on a ball, and the wind resistance it cuts through as it crosses the plate? Ht really kills people," said Becker. "It screws pepplg up a lot." A it's all in the grip she has on the ball. It's in the special way she places her fingers across the seams of the softball that takes some of the steam off of the pitch, while the natural spin has it hurtling towards the corner. "it's wefrd," admitted Becker, "But, it's because of the spin." Most batters can't even hit it. Even fewer catchers can keep it from going [y then? at a pass-pal]. That's where Cameron comes in. She's not only confident enough to call the change-up, she's sure handed enough to catch it. "A-lot Bf'people haire a hard time catching it," said Becker. "I know when it's coming," said Cameron. “I'll drop to my knees before it comes, and usually it's right on the spots where it's sup- posed to be. _ So does Becker ever shake off her best friend? Does she ever ask for another yet ofsigns A -- __ "Sure, I've shiken her off," laughed Becker. "But not too many "There's a lot of trust involved." "I like to be in control," laughed Cameron. "I like that she has to do what I called." I "That makes it a lot easier for me to catch it."