Softball: Athletics Mercado Teams Depart Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

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This is my story. This is my reality. This is women in sports. And I will no longer stay silent to protect an organization’s reputation.
For months, I endured sexual harassment, inappropriate comments about my body, sexual remarks and inappropriate jokes directed at me and made in front of our 8-, 9-, and 10-year-old athletes from Devin Taylor. Sexual comments were also made in the girls’ presence, where they could hear them. This was accompanied by inappropriate messages, foul language, and behavior that should never have been tolerated in youth sports. From inappropriate comments, to attempting to share a one bedroom hotel with me (multiple times) in out of state tournaments.
After reporting my concerns to Jacob Rose and Jesse Frausto, and was told that it will immediately go under investigation through the organization. I was later told by Jesse Frausto that Devin has been removed with 0 intentions of bringing him back. I was told I would continue coaching in place of Devin until I left for college in August. That never happened. Instead, he WAS brought back and welcomed into the very program where I raised these concerns. Meanwhile, I was silently released from the program after reporting misconduct and experiencing sexual harassment and was later blocked from all team social media.
I was also told to keep the situation in-house for damage control. But protecting an organization’s reputation should never come before protecting young athletes and holding people accountable.
To everyone who knew about these concerns and agreed to bring him back around young female athletes: accountability extends beyond the harasser himself. Those who knowingly choose to overlook serious concerns and support decisions that allow this behavior to go unaddressed must answer for their choices, too.
If you cannot look at me and see your own daughter, your own player, or a young woman you are responsible for protecting, then I question your place in women’s sports.
What I have shared is only a fraction of what happened. I will no longer hide my story for the sake of damage control, and I will no longer stay silent to make others comfortable.
Protect the girls. Protect the women. Protect the athletes who trust you.
This is bigger than me. This is about accountability, the safety of young athletes, and the standards we choose to uphold. And this is only the beginning.
Athletics Mercado. Jesse Frausto. Devin Taylor. Jacob Rose. And anybody that stands by Devin Taylor. Do better.
Athletics Mercado Academy - Texas
Athletics-Mercado
DFWfastpitch
#WomenInSports #speakupspeakout

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Think fatigue

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