Softball Teams Break Ranks: Three Clubs Leave Texas Academy

Liana Gonzalez, a former coach with the nationally ranked Athletics Mercado academy, accused head coach Devin Taylor of sexual harassment on Oct. 27. She detailed the allegations in a Facebook post, claiming Taylor made inappropriate remarks about her body and directed sexual jokes at her. These incidents occurred both privately and in front of the 10-and-under softball team they coached together.

Gonzalez stated that Taylor also sent her inappropriate text messages and tried to share a hotel room with her during travel tournaments. According to her account, the academy released her from her coaching position after she reported the misconduct. She said the organization then protected Taylor, who remained in a position to work with young female athletes.

Three teams affiliated with Athletics Mercado responded to the post by announcing they would leave the organization. The first to speak was Athletics Mercado HTX 20333, a Houston-based team. In a Facebook announcement, the group said its responsibility extended beyond developing skills to protecting players. The team noted that its coaches believed in empowering female athletes and providing a safe space for them to pursue the game.

The North Texas-based Athletics Mercado Montero-Mijares followed with its own announcement. The team said it would leave the organization and rename itself. The statement cited the team's commitment to its players' futures and their love of the sport.

The Central Texas-based Athletics Mercado CTX 14U also announced its intent to part ways with the academy. The team wrote that it could not teach daughters to demand respect and never tolerate harassment while remaining silent when those values were challenged within the organization.

Gonzalez said she reported the alleged conduct to academy leadership in July. She claimed she was told the matter would be investigated but was advised to keep the situation in-house for damage control. She stated that leadership knowingly brought Taylor back around young female athletes despite the nature of the allegations. She named Jesse Frausto, Jacob Rose, and Brian Tidd as individuals who protected Taylor.

Gonzalez provided screenshots in her post showing that the team continued to operate after her report. Practices and training sessions took place while she remained in the team's group chat. Taylor also continued to appear on the team's social media. On Oct. 17, the team's account published a birthday message for him.

Athletics Mercado acknowledged the allegations in a Facebook statement and confirmed that Taylor is no longer with the organization. The academy disputed Gonzalez's account of how it handled her complaint. It stated that she was not removed from her coaching position or prevented from continuing to coach because she voiced her concerns.

The Texas leadership of the academy also issued a statement. It said the concerns were elevated to organizational leadership for guidance and action. The post emphasized that the concerns were not ignored, dismissed, or swept under the rug. The available statements did not independently establish the exact timeline of when Taylor stopped working with the organization or whether the team was formally disbanded.