Stagg's Alycia 'Lala' Reynaga remembered at Greater San Joaquin Softball Hall of Fame event
Around 160 softball lovers gathered in the Lodi Grape Festival hall to celebrate the 78th Greater San Joaquin Softball District Hall of Fame. The attendees reunited and shared gameday stories they’ll never forget.
They also got to be a part of a tribute for the late Alycia “Lala” Reynaga, a Stagg JV softball player who was stabbed to death last April at her school. She was 15.
“Her parents couldn’t make it tonight, but her mom texted me that she’s just grateful that we still keep her name alive,” said Lia Madrazo, Stagg’s softball head coach. “We do it for Lala. We’re always keeping her spirit alive somehow some way.”
GSJSD commission Kary Moore opened up the evening of festivities by gifting Madrazo and Reynaga’s teammates stickers for their batting helmets that read “Long Live Lala.” The softball association also donated $300 to the Delta Queen’s softball program.
“I wanted to honor this young lady. You know, this day and age, you don’t know when it’s your time, and her time was cut way too short. It’s a tragedy,” Moore said. “ As a softball community, all 160 of you guys all came tonight and you gave and gave so we could give back.”
2023 Inductee class for GSJSD
In addition to paying homage to Reynaga, the GSJSD inducted five softball players and one team for its 2023 Hall of Fame class. These inductees sat atop the slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball world in Stockton. They built a community around their sport after they retired from the game.
“Softball for me brought together different cultures, different religions, different backgrounds,” said Lynette Isaacson, a 2023 Hall of Fame inductee. “Teams are transformed when one of us is honored and tonight is an honor for our whole team.”
Read on about the latest Hall of Famers and their background in the sport.
(Listed in alphabetical order.)
Herschel Hamilton
Hamilton played baseball and softball for over 70 years at the shortstop position. He has a lifetime batting average of .667. Hamilton won eight gold medals at the 2023 Huntsman World Senior World Games in St. George, Utah.
Lynette Isaacson
Isaacson was a left fielder known for her strong arm and her ability to hit at any park in slow-pitch softball. In 1978, she was part of a team that finished as runner-up in the Slow Pitch National Championship in Ohio. That same year Issacson led her team to another runner-up finish in the Slow Pitch World Tournament in Las Vegas.
Jimmy Priest
At the left and centerfield position, Priest was a gifted slow pitch player. Known for his rope-like line drives and being an all-around softball player, Priest played for numerous teams in San Joaquin County. He played for Us N Dem, Charlie Rose, K&K Shockers and M&M Mania.
Team Italian Athletic Club
This Stockton-based fast pitch team was founded in 1938 and has 85 years of domination under its belt. Since its founding, the Italian Athletic Club has won three 3 Fast Pitch National & World Series Championships. The club won its first national championship in 2008 and then it's second in 2010. In 2011, the IAC won its first Major World Series Championship.
Josh Tisdale
Tisdale got his start in baseball and soon fell in love with fast-pitch softball. He thrived in high-pressure situations, playing in 17 National Championships as a shortstop. Tisdale was named the MVP and Home Run Champion of the 1999 ASA “B” Fast Pitch National Championship. Tisdale is now a softball coach at Tokay High School.
Chase Turner
Turner started playing fast-pitch softball in 2006 for the Italian Athletic Club as a right fielder. He came through for his team with clutch at-bats. Turner played seven years for the USA Men’s National fast-pitch team and won three national championships during that timespan. He also coached women’s softball at San Jose State for 11 years.
Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stagg's Alycia Reynaga remembered by Greater San Joaquin Softball HOF
