Sunnyside Baseball Honors Tragic Loss, Supports Grieving Coach

Team wears pink to remember 3-year-old Anna Garcia, killed in a street racing crash

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting in shades of pink, purple, and blue, depicting a fragmented baseball game or match, representing the emotions of honoring a lost child.The Sunnyside High School baseball team's gesture to wear pink in honor of 3-year-old Anna Garcia reflects the community's grief and determination to prevent future tragedies.Tucson Today

The Sunnyside High School baseball team is honoring the memory of 3-year-old Anna Garcia, who was tragically killed in a street racing crash last week. The team is wearing pink wristbands and accessories to support their assistant coach Jesus Hernandez, whose family was close with Anna's family through youth sports. The community has rallied around the Garcia family, with a GoFundMe raising over $98,000 and a petition for 'Anna's Law' to increase penalties for street racing gaining thousands of signatures.

Why it matters

The loss of young Anna Garcia has devastated the Tucson community, and the Sunnyside baseball team's gesture to honor her memory and support their grieving coach shows the power of sports to bring people together in times of tragedy. This story also highlights the urgent need for stricter laws and penalties to deter dangerous street racing that can lead to senseless deaths.

The details

Sunnyside assistant coach Jesus Hernandez and the Garcia family, including Anna's father Manny and uncle Sammy, had grown close through coaching youth football together. When tragedy struck and Anna was killed in a street racing crash, Hernandez wanted to find a way for his team to honor her. He asked the players to wear pink wristbands and accessories, as pink was a favorite color of Anna's, when they hosted rival Rincon/University - whose primary color is purple, another of Anna's favorites. The team readily agreed to the gesture to support their coach and the grieving Garcia family.

  • Last week, Anna Garcia was killed in a crash from a senseless street race.
  • This week, Anna's mother Brianda gave birth to a baby girl named Ellianna while hospitalized from the crash.
  • The funeral service for Anna is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 9:30 a.m.

The players

Jesus Hernandez

Sunnyside High School baseball assistant coach whose family was close with the Garcia family through youth sports.

Emmanuel 'Manny' Garcia

Anna Garcia's father and coach of the Tucson Raiders youth football team.

Sammy Mendoza

Anna Garcia's uncle and coach of the Tucson Raiders youth football team.

Brianda Garcia

Anna Garcia's mother, who was hospitalized from the crash and gave birth to a baby girl this week.

Anna Magdalena Garcia

The 3-year-old girl tragically killed in a street racing crash last week.

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What they’re saying

“Our kids spent a lot of time together, which makes this very hard. No parent should have to go through this. This was preventable.”

— Jesus Hernandez, Sunnyside High School baseball assistant coach

“The outpouring of support from the community has been absolutely unbelievable and a miracle from God. I can not express enough gratitude and thankfulness for all of you who have reached out to me and my family.”

— Manny Garcia, Anna Garcia's father

“Don't allow my daughter's life to be in vain. Please support the petition so that we can all prevent future families from the devastation of losing a precious life taken too soon.”

— Manny Garcia, Anna Garcia's father

What’s next

The Garcia family has started a petition for 'Anna's Law' to impose stricter penalties on drivers caught street racing, which has already gained nearly 22,000 signatures with a goal of 25,000.

The takeaway

This tragedy has devastated the Tucson community, but the outpouring of support for the Garcia family and the team's gesture to honor Anna show the power of sports to bring people together in times of grief. The push for 'Anna's Law' also highlights the urgent need for legislative action to deter dangerous street racing and prevent future senseless deaths.