Tyler pitcher Eli Sanchez throws to the plate in April 2022 in Tyler. A 2022 Tyler High graduate, Sanchez was a standout athlete who went on to coach at USA Prime East Texas. The community is mourning his tragic death. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

Funeral services for Rawly “Eli” Sanchez, a beloved son, brother, grandson, friend, teammate and coach, are scheduled for Friday at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Tyler.

A viewing is scheduled for 2 p.m. prior to the service at the church. The funeral is slated to begin at at 3 p.m.

Sanchez, 19, a standout baseball player and quarterback at Tyler High School, was killed in a shooting on July 4.

The always friendly and smiling Sanchez with the magnetic personality was a 2022 graduate of THS. He was named the Tyler Morning Telegraph Best Preps Tyler Sportsmanship Award winner in 2022.

Eli was born in Waxahachie on July 30, 2004, to parents Rawly and Christina Sanchez.

He was a standout student, leader and mentor. He served as a baseball coach as well.

Eli was preceded in death by his grandfather, Fernando C. Sanchez.

He is survived by his father Rawly Sanchez, mother Christina Sanchez, sister Tori Sanchez, grandparents Eliazar and Graciela Fonseca, grandmother Margot Valdez (Luis), grandmother Linda Sanchez-Gazella (Mike), uncle Fernando Sanchez Jr. (Lisa), uncle Guadalupe Sanchez (Melanie), aunt Randi Sanchez, aunt Gloria Sanchez Birch (Doug), aunt Paloma Sanchez, aunt Alicia Hernandez (Jesus), aunt Nina Sanchez Ramirez (Maximiano), uncle Juan Jose Sanchez, uncle Ricardo Sanchez, aunt Cristina Sanchez, aunt Sonia Fonseca, uncle Eliazar Fonseca Jr. (Leslie), girlfriend Hien Dieu Tran, girlfriend’s father Minh Van Tran and girlfriend’s mother Thuy Hong Dang,

Pallbearers will be Jacob, Lance, Julian, Sammy, Colt and Ozzy. Honorary Pallbearers will include: Rafa, Ramiro, Aidan.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations payable to “USA Prime East Texas” for the benefit of the Coach Eli Scholarship. Any floral contributions may be sent to Colonial Hills Baptist Church of Tyler by 12:30 p.m.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store. Funeral services provided by Boren-Conner Funeral Home — Jacksonville.

GOFUNDME

A GoFundMe has been set up for Eli.

Sanchez was shot while in the backseat of a truck that was making a U-turn behind a Smith County business on the night of July 4.

The online fundraiser started soon after news of Eli’s death started to circulate throughout the community. Within a short time, it’s already raised over $24,145 of a $15,000 goal. Some 245 people have donated.

Those interested in donating can do so at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-sanchez-family-in-their-time-of-need