Super Bowl champion quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Eli Manning have shouted the popular phrase in commercials. Now, Taylor Tooley of the Plainfield Central High School regional championship softball team can say the same.
She's going to Disney World.
The senior second baseman -- a two-time Herald News first team all-area selection -- has accepted an invitation to the inaugural Under Armour All-America softball game, which will be played Sunday in Orlando, Fla., at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex and televised nationally on ESPNU at noon.
"Actually, I have been to Disney World a couple of times," Tooley said. "The first time was as a baby, and the time that I remember the most was when the whole side of my mom's family met for Halloween. It was a theme thing, with everyone being dressed up in different Halloween costumes."
For two straight springs, Taylor has fashioned a "Friday the 13th" horror show for opposing pitchers to face, batting .450 last year with 14 doubles, 6 triples, 7 home runs and 43 RBIs. As a sophomore, she batted .473 with 53 hits, 31 runs, 11 doubles, 7 triples, 7 home runs and 46 RBIs.
While admitting that "nothing is set in stone," Tooley expects to switch to shortstop in her senior season for Plainfield Central, which graduated University of Michigan recruit Stephanie Kirkpatrick -- the 2008 Herald News Player of the Year. The pair proved to be an exceptional defensive combo.
Before that, however, Tooley will perform on the national stage. Her plane leaves early today for a banquet with the Top 30 players in the nation of classes 2009 and 2010. A Saturday practice session has been scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Sunday's slate features a 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. warmup/practice, the game and a 4 p.m. awards ceremony.
She's ready for Disney World.
"I'm excited," Tooley said. "I just don't know what to think and I don't know what to expect because I don't know what's going to happen or who is going to be there playing on the teams. But I am excited."
"I think it's very exciting," Plainfield coach Anne Campbell said. "If I'm not mistaken, she's the only player from Illinois, and the fact that it's the first year, the first time they have ever played this game, this group gets to be pioneers and that's a very big honor."
Honors have flowed as constant as a stream for Tooley, a two-year varsity starter and a two-time all-conference choice of the Southwest Prairie for a program under Campbell that has won three consecutive softball regional championships for the first time in school history. The Wildcats' previous regional titles came in 1983 and 2003.
Big hits have been the norm for Tooley, whose laser-like RBI double in the bottom of a 3-run fifth inning culminated Plainfield's rally for a 3-2 win over Hinsdale Central in the Class 4A regional semifinals this spring. She also delivered her trademark diving stop, Gold Glove effort despite the usual opening jitters.
"She'll be fine," Campbell said. "Taylor tends to get a little bit nervous before she plays, but she's going to be with the best of the best, or at least that's what it's supposed to be, and I would be worried about her if she wasn't nervous. She'll hold her own against the others."
"I am nervous," said Tooley, who plays summer travel ball with the Lemont Rockers. "But I think it's going to help me a lot that it's not the only big game I have ever played in. I've had to deal with the pressure before and that will make it a lot easier on me. My goal is to not make any errors in the field and to make sure that I play my best."
In 2009, Tooley plans on joining Joliet's best at Southern Illinois Edwardsville, the 2007 NCAA Division II national champions. Moving up to Division I for 2009, SIUE lists junior third baseman Lauren Zembruski of Minooka, sophomore utility Christina Signore of Lincoln-Way East, senior utility Amanda Pucel of Minooka and junior outfielder Chaleen Rumpf of Lincoln-Way Central on its roster.
She's going to be a Cougar.
"I really liked the campus and it was close to home," said Tooley, who has verbally committed and will sign in November. "It was nice and I didn't want to go too far from home. The only negative part was that it wasn't Division I yet, but I'm really happy about that -- that it will be when I'll play there."
"It's a good fit for her," said Campbell, who noted Illinois and Northwestern were contenders for Tooley's signature. "The whole process puts a lot of pressure on them and it was starting to get to her, so she'll be able to relax, have fun and play ball."
Since the high school season ended for her in the sectional semifinals, Tooley has heard "Play ball!" more often than "I'm going to Disney World!" The girl nicknamed "Tool Time" has been busier than bees in a hive with the Lemont Rockers, something that should be as sweet as honey for her among the All-Americans gathered at Disney World.
"We practice two or three times a week and every weekend we have a tournament," Tooley said. "It has been, basically, nonstop softball for me all summer. Pretty good. I've been playing pretty good, but there's always room for improvement."
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