Nielsen, Schilling Lead Terra Linda Up Against Tam

coach says so many people seem to be rooting for his softball team, he considers it the Chicago Cubs of the Marin County Athletic League.

“It been a wonderful year, regardless of whether we win or lose,” Lucchi said on the eve of Friday’s North Coast Section quarterfinal game at Tam. “We’ve been getting tons of support. I’ve heard from a lot of alumni. A lot of fans are reaching out …”

That’s what happens when you come out of nowhere – the Trojans hadn’t come close to making the MCAL Playoffs previously since Lucchi arrived in 2004 – and then comfortably settle into NCS play with a 5-0 win.

The triumph over Campolindo of Moraga on Thursday propelled the Trojans up against MCAL rival Tam in a 5 p.m. matchup of teams that split regular-season meetings.

Tam is still stinging from the first head-to-head, a game it led with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, only to watch blast a dramatic home run that produced the Red-tailed Hawks’ only home defeat of the season.

“Marin Catholic hit some home runs there (in an NCS game Thursday),” Coach Lucchi observed. “I’m kinda hoping that rubs off on us.”

Actually, when Tam’s Kim Scarsella and Terra Linda’s duel on the mound, Lucchi knows seeing even one home run will be surprising.

“What has to happen for us to win, we can’t give up more than two (runs),” he said. “You give up more than two against a pitcher like her, you start thinking it could be over. That’s how good a pitcher she is.”

Even in defeat, Scarsella struck out 15 Trojans in the first meeting, then whiffed 11 when Tam avenged the loss with a 7-1 win at Terra Linda.

But Schilling has been plenty impressive herself in recent outings, including Thursday’s shutout of Campolindo.

“We shouldn’t take Sammy Schilling for granted,” Lucchi noted. “I’m happy for her. She hasn’t had the greatest of teams behind her the last three years, yet she’s always smiling.

“I know underneath that demeanor she’s got to be a gamer.”

was the hero for the Trojans at the plate Thursday, much as she was a couple of weeks ago when Terra Linda beat defending NCS champion Bishop O’Dowd in a non-league game.

Nielsen drove in four runs with a pair doubles against Campolindo, including a bases-clearing shot in the sixth inning of what had been a tight, 2-0 contest.

“If my first three (in the order) don’t do anything, that’s usually when I’m losing my games a lot of the times,” Lucchi said of , Ally Lucchi and . “It’s nice when you get contributions from some of the other players.

“That was a big sigh of relief when she got that hit in the sixth.”

Terra Linda will be playing for a second consecutive day Friday, whereas Tam hasn’t played since losing the MCAL title game to Redwood last Saturday. Some would say the Trojans might be tired, but Lucchi isn’t one of them.

“Everyone is confident,” he said. “I don’t think she (Schilling) had to work too hard (Thursday). That was just a tune-up. Meanwhile, Kim hasn’t pitched since Saturday, so maybe we can get her early.”