They pitch and catch, catch and pitch

Ryan Bell knows that his best friend, fellow captain, and closest confidant will be 60 feet, 6 inches away.

It's just a matter of whether David Viselli is behind the plate or atop the pitcher's mound.

Either way, Bell says, the two Burlington Township High School baseball stars will see the game the same way.

"It's almost like we're the same person," Bell said. "When he's pitching and I'm catching, he never shakes me off. When I'm pitching and he's catching, I never shake him off.

"We're both into the game on every pitch."

Burlington Township, which returns several key players from last year's team that won the Burlington County League's Liberty Division, probably has the most different battery in South Jersey.

Burlington Township coach Jason Stec regards Bell, a senior righthander, and Viselli, a junior righthander, as his "No. 1 and 1A" pitchers.

But here's the twist: Bell and Viselli also are the team's top two catchers. So when one's on the mound, the other is behind the plate.

"We know each other so well," Viselli said. "Bells and I are best friends on the field and off the field. We're both captains. We have the same mind-set."

Viselli was 5-1 on the mound last season as Burlington Township went 16-8 and made the Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic for the first time in the 39-year history of the tournament. The hard-throwing athlete struck out 47 in 511/3 innings and finished with a 1.23 ERA.

Bell was 5-3 with a 3.60 ERA. He walked just 18 in 482/3 innings.

"He's a lot craftier than I am," Viselli said of Bell. "He can locate better than I can."

Bell said Viselli's fastball is his best pitch.

"He can blow it by people," Bell said. "I work more off my curveball and change-up."

Despite their differences in pitching style, the two always seem in sync when one's on the mound and the other is calling the game from behind the plate.

"He knows what I like to throw, and I know what he likes to throw," Viselli said.

Stec said his two captains are among the smartest players he has ever coached, regularly thinking several moves ahead of the action on the field.

"We'll be in the dugout as coaches saying, 'Let's call a pitchout,' " Stec said. "They will already have called it on the field. They are both just really smart baseball players."

The Falcons' third pitcher probably is junior Aaron Crichlow, whose fastball has reached 88 m.p.h. When Crichlow takes the mound, Viselli usually replaces him in the outfield.

But Stec has other options, as Bell has experience at third base and shortstop and in the outfield.

"One of the great things about both of these guys is how versatile they are," Stec said.

Bell and Viselli also swing the bat well. Bell hit six doubles last season and struck out just eight times in 74 plate appearances. Viselli batted .358 with 25 RBIs and five extra-base hits.

"We'll both do whatever we can to help the team," Viselli said.