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Eli Sanchez, a beloved student-athlete at Tyler High School, is being remembered as “high-spirited and loveable teammate” this weekend.

Tyler High is honoring him with the newly named Eli Sanchez Memorial Baseball Tournament in Tyler.

The tournament honors the life and legacy of former Lion Eli Sanchez.

A nine-team field is participating in the tourney. It began on Thursday and continued on Friday and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Mike Carter Field. The Lions are hosting Sulphur Springs, Nevada Community, Palestine Westwood, Hughes Springs, Troup, West Rusk, Harleton and Brownsboro participating.

Rawly “Eli” Sanchez, 19, 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.

Sanchez was a Tyler High School Class of 2022 graduate. In his time at Tyler High, he was a standout member of the baseball and football teams. In 2022, the Tyler Morning Telegraph selected him as the Best Preps Tyler Sportsmanship Award winner. He was also a starting quarterback for the Lions. He was a four-year varsity starter for the baseball team, while earning all-district, All-East Texas and All-Rose Country honors.

“(Eli) was a beloved student-athlete at Tyler High School,” Tyler Coach Seth Gibson said. “He will always be remembered as a high-spirited and loveable teammate.

Before his untimely death, Sanchez was working as a baseball coach at USA Prime East Texas and attending Tyler Junior College.

Saturday’s schedule includes: Nevada Community vs. Hughes Springs, 9 a.m.; Sulphur Springs vs. Hughes Springs, 11 a.m.; West Rusk vs. Brownsboro, 1 p.m.; Brownsboro vs. Tyler, 3 p.m.; West Rusk vs. Tyler, 5 p.m.