By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

As Charter Oak hosts Glendora today in a CIF-SS Division 2 wild-card game, the Chargers are as battle-tested as anyone.

They finished one-game back of Hacienda League champion South Hills, after dropping a 2-1 contest last Thursday.

All four of their league losses (South Hills twice, Walnut & West Covina once each) came in one-run games.

The Chargers are 7-6 this season against current playoff teams and their pitching staff has allowed just 38 runs in 23 games.

Charter Oak’s staff boasts a very impressive 1.08 ERA.

While there have been many contributors in the Chargers’ success in 2019, there are three seniors that carry much of the load.

Gordon Cooper, Jacob Moreno and Paul Sanchez have been invaluable for third-year coach Elias Chavez.

Cooper has been incredible on the mound.

The senior lefty is 8-0, with a 0.57 ERA.

Cooper has allowed just four earned runs in 49 innings, walked nine and fanned 32 batters.

And as well as he’s pitching, the biggest surprise for those in Charter Oak colors is how effective he’s become with a bat in his hand.

Cooper has a team-high .422 batting average, he’s second in hits, just two back of Chris Ceballos’ 29 base hits.

He’s scored 15 runs, driven in 12 and has a pair of triples.

Cooper also spends time in center field and says his role is simple, and it’s to be a guy ‘that just gets the simple things done.

When asked what the program learned from a number of one-run losses, Cooper believes it taught them that they can play with anyone when they execute in the field and at the plate.

They have also learned the hard way how thin the line is between winning and losing games.

His parents, Gordon and Donna Cooper are his backbone and guide, and he also wanted to thank Coach Cip at the TNT training facility in San Dimas.

“My parents have supported me in every way, not just with baseball, Cooper said. “I’ve always appreciated that they never force me to do anything that I did not want to do. They taught me if I want to become a better person, I have to want to do that on my own and not having to rely on them to constantly push me to be a better person. Most importantly, they taught me how to take responsibility.”

His coach is very proud of the way Cooper has evolved into a better player and young man.

“Gordon has been incredible on the mound,” Charter Oak coach Elias Chavez said. “But he’s also made the transition offensively and has been a pleasant surprise. He went from finding hits here and there to driving the ball. I am most proud of the discipline, maturity and work ethic he’s displayed over his senior year.”

Paul Sanchez is a three-year starter at shortstop.

Sanchez is hitting .361 with 22 hits and 13 RBIs from the leadoff spot.

He leads the Chargers in runs scored (21), doubles (9), on-base percentage (.517), walks (14) and stolen bases (9).

Perhaps his most impressive stat is striking out just once in all of 2019.

Sanchez is all about ‘we’ and not ‘me.’

“I think my role is to guide my teammates and lead them in any way I can,” Sanchez said. “I just want to help my team in any way they need me to. We all do our jobs and work hard daily, and it’s led us to some success.”

If Charter Oak wins games and he has an off-day statistically, it’s all good for the Chargers shortstop.

Sanchez says his parents (Christine and Paul Sanchez) and sister, Victoria, are his number one fans and that without their support, guidance and love, he wouldn’t be anywhere near the person, student or athlete that he’s evolved into.

Sanchez will play his college ball at Cal State San Bernardino.

“Paul brings a quiet confidence and isn’t the in-your-face type of leader,” Chavez said. “When he does talk, though, the kids listen. He makes every routine play at shortstop and has become a guy with outstanding range and a solid arm. At the plate, he has gap-to-gap power.”

Jacob Moreno, the three-year starting second baseman, is a guy whose stats won’t and couldn’t reflect his true value to the Charter Oak program.

Moreno is hitting .313, with 21 hits, 15 runs and 12 RBIs.

Moreno has five doubles, two triples and two home runs.

He’s been hit by pitch 13 times, which is a team-best, but his most impressive statistic is having committed just two errors in the past two years combined.

Moreno hits in the No. 3 spot in the lineup, after Sanchez and Cooper in that order.

His on-base percentage in .489 and is what his coach calls the most gritty player he’s ever been around.

“He’s our sparkplug and brings an attitude or swagger that the younger players follow and pick up on,” Chavez said. “Jacob wants to be great and he’s willing to put in the extra work to take his game to the next level. After practice, he asks to take extra ground balls and it shows in his play at second base.”

And as good as Moreno is, he’s just as humble.

“It’s been a team effort and everyone has contributed in one way or another,” Moreno said. “I think my role is to stay calm during pressure situations and make sure our guys play the game the way they know how. (Regarding tough one-run losses) We experienced some struggles early in league, and that helped us find our identity as a team and individuals. We know what it takes to win close games and how important it is to dominate early and late in games.”

Moreno is most grateful (when it comes to baseball) of his infield coach last year.

He said Danny Sheehan helped elevate his game mentally and how that brought back the dog mentality that he’s had in him all along.

Moreno said Sheehan taught him not to dwell on mistakes, that life goes on and to learn from each mistake, so you don’t keep repeating them.

And his parents, Yvonne and Roy Moreno, have, according to their son, sacrificed everything to make Jacob a happy young man, and it’s given him the ability to chase his dreams.

All three Charter Oak seniors have a better than 3.0 GPA.

First pitch for today’s showdown with Glendora is at 3:15.

Career Stats (Year by Year):
2017 (17-6 overall team record, 12-3 in league):

Moreno: .241 average, 13 hits, 8 runs, 7 RBIs, 2 doubles

Sanchez: .306, 19 hits, 11 runs, 14 RBIs, 5 doubles

Cooper 2-0, 1.26 ERA, 6 walks, 12 K’s

2018 (14-11, 11-4):

Sanchez: .278, 20 hits, 17 runs, 15 rbis, 3 doubles, 2 HR

Moreno: .316, 25 hits, 21 runs, 14 RBIs, 5 doubles, triple, HR

Cooper: .340, 18 hits, 13 runs, 4 RBIs, 5 triples

1-3, 1.56 ERA, 13 walks, 22 strikeouts

2019 (16-7, 11-4):

Sanchez: .361, 22 hits, 21 runs, 13 RBIs, 9 doubles, 2 triples

Moreno: .313, 21 hits, 15 runs, 12 RBIs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR

Cooper: .422, 27 hits, 15 runs, 12 RBIs, double, 2 triples

8-0, 0.57 ERA, 4 earned runs in 49 innings, 9 walks, 32 K’s

Regular Season Hacienda League Standings:​

South Hills (19-8, 12-3)​

Charter Oak (16-7, 11-4)​

Walnut (14-11, 8-7)​

Los Altos (13-15, 8-7)​

West Covina (9-17, 6-10)​

Diamond Ranch (2-28, 0-15)​

​Getting to know Gordon Cooper:

Favorite Sports Team: Dodgers

Favorite Athlete: Clayton Kershaw

Favorite Movie: Logan

Favorite Musical Artist: Migos

Someone Famous (Alive or Dead) I’d want a conversation with: Walter Bond

Getting to know Paul Sanchez:

Favorite Sports Team: Angels

Favorite Athlete: Jose Altuve

Favorite Movie: 13 Hours

Favorite Musical Artist: Drake

Someone Famous (Alive or Dead) I’d want a conversation with: Mike Trout

Getting to know Jacob Moreno:

Favorite Sports Team: USC Football

Favorite Athlete: Mike Trout

Favorite Movie: Hacksaw Ridge

Favorite Musical Artist: Post Malone

Someone Famous (Alive or Dead) I’d want a conversation with: Jesus Christ