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SALEM, Ore. A.J. Jenkins Youth Jersey . -- Conner Mertens didnt want to pretend anymore -- especially with his teammates. So the redshirt freshman kicker at Division III Willamette announced Tuesday that hes bisexual. "It got to a point where I just got tired of it, trying to hide who I was and trying to pretend I was something I was not," he said. Mertens, 19, announced his sexual orientation to his teammates during a meeting on Monday. A story about him appeared on Outsports.com on Tuesday. Speaking on campus later in the afternoon, Mertens said he hopes his announcement helps dispel the stereotypes and stigmas associated with bisexual athletes -- and in turn let other LGBT athletes know they are not alone. "You can be real and you can be yourself," Mertens said. "That only starts when you can love yourself and let others love you. Thats kind of where I was going with this." Bearcats coach Glen Fowles said the players were overwhelmingly supportive of his decision. "Its been great to see the way our guys have rallied around," Fowles said. "For our guys, Conner is just a kicker." Team captain and junior inside linebacker Jack Nelson said: "It wasnt a big deal and we were glad he felt comfortable to tell us." While several LGBT athletes have come out, including former NBA player Jason Collins, WNBA star Brittney Griner and Major League Soccer player Robbie Rogers, its believed that Mertens is the first active college football player at any level to publicly announce his bisexuality. Willamette issued a statement supporting Mertens decision, saying the university "respects his contribution to a more humane and just world." Fowles joked about how Mertens first approached him: "He says, Coach, Im really going to utilize this open door policy." Mertens, who told his family just after Christmas, said he was humbled by the response. "It sounds corny, but I legitimately feel theres a weight off my shoulders. Its tiring to pretend your something else for 24-7, for 18 or 19 years of your life," he said. "So finally to be able to joke about it, to be honest about it, not have to put on this mask, Im finally able to take a deep breath." The Bearcats play in the Northwest Conference. The team went 7-2 overall last season and finished third in the league at 4-2. Mertens did not play his freshman season because he hurt his left knee while playing soccer. He will compete with two other kickers on the Bearcats roster. Kyle Williams Youth Jersey . The Scotsman was dismissed only five days after being told by the club he would remain in charge for the "foreseeable future. Jeff Linkenbach Womens Jersey . Canadas strong showing throughout the World Cup season has qualified it for the maximum number of spots in every short-track speedskating event at the Sochi Games in February. "With the beginning to the season that Ive had, beginning with the Canadian trials in August, I have nothing to doubt in myself.BALTIMORE -- In a matchup between the two top teams in the AL East, a rookie right-hander got the best of a 35-year-old looking for his major-league leading 11th win. Kevin Gausman gave up one run over six innings and Delmon Young homered as the Baltimore Orioles beat Mark Buehrle and the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Thursday night. Nick Markakis had two hits and an RBI for the Orioles, who moved within 3 1-2 games of first-place Toronto. Gausman (2-1) allowed five hits, walked three and struck out three in his second consecutive solid outing. The 2012 first-round draft pick stymied Oakland on June 7 after being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and now appears to be a fixture in the starting rotation. Well, maybe. "Hes done what it takes to be considered," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Hes taking care of his end of it." Gausman, 23, has given up only two runs in 13 innings during his latest stint with Baltimore. "I feel good about what Ive done. I feel comfortable right now," Gausman said. "Whatever happens is going to be for the clubs best interest." Zach Britton worked the ninth for his sixth save. The victory wasnt secured, however, until a replay review confirmed the final out on a double-play grounder. Buehrle (10-3) yielded four runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings to lose his second straight start following a six-game winning streak. The left-hander allowed three runs or fewer in 12 of his previous 13 starts. "I feel like there were times I made a lot of mistakes and they made me pay for them" Buehrle said. "And I made a few good pitches and they put the ball in play and got some base hits." Toronto has lost three straight and five of six, scoring only four runs in those five defeats. "As hot as we were, we were going to cool off sooner or later," manager John Gibbons said. "Well get it going. Were too good of an offence. Well be OK." Baltimore needed just two at-bats to take a 2-0 lead. Markakis led off with a single and the seldom-used Young sent a changeup into the seats in left field, his first home run since April 8, and only the fourth againstt Buehrle this season. Anthony Sherman Jersey. It was the eighth straight game in which Toronto allowed the opposition to score first. In those games, the Blue Jays have been outscored 16-4 in the first three innings. "It seems like weve gone out as starting pitchers and given up runs in the first inning," Buehrle said. "When your offence is struggling to score runs ... it kind of seems its taking the wind right out of our sails. We got to do a better job going out there and throwing up zeroes." The Orioles made it 3-0 in the third. Manny Machado led off with a double to end an 0-for-18 skid and Caleb Joseph delivered an RBI single. Toronto got a run in the fifth when Juan Francisco doubled and came home on a single by Melky Cabrera. The double ended Baltimores string of 23 innings without allowing an extra-base hit, and the run snapped the Orioles streak of 19 consecutive scoreless innings. That would be the only flaw in an otherwise solid performance by Gausman, who was 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA in his previous four appearances against Toronto. "Gausman was good tonight," Gibbons said. "Hes got that overpowering fastball. He was keeping it in the zone. I think in the past hes had some control issues, but its all coming together for him." Doubles by Jonathan Schoop and Markakis put Baltimore up 4-1 in the seventh, and Toronto got a run off Ryan Webb in the eighth when Jose Bautista doubled, stole third and scored on a groundout by Adam Lind. NOTES: Toronto OF Colby Rasmus (right hamstring) went 1 for 3 in his first rehab start Thursday, serving as DH for Triple-A Buffalo. ... Baltimore will send Ubaldo Jimenez (2-7) to the mound Friday night in the second game of the series. Jimenez is 0-5 with a 7.04 ERA in six home starts. Drew Hutchison (4-4) will start for Toronto. ... Baltimore pitchers have gone 42 straight innings without allowing a home run. ... Torontos Jose Reyes opened the game with a single to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. ... Markakis passed Brian Roberts and moved into sole possession of seventh place on the Orioles career list with 1,453 hits. wholesale nfl jerseys ' ' ' |
