The Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets won the Triple-A National Championship on Sunday, marking the first in the history of the team.
MiLB implemented the Triple-A National Championship in the 2006 season, taking the winners from each of the two leagues and pitting them against each other in a one-game showdown. The Dodgers had only qualified for the event once prior to Saturday, losing against the Toledo Mud Hens in 2023.
The Comets went through to the National Championship game after beating the Las Vegas Aviators in a three-game series to decide the Pacific Coast League champion. Before 2026, they won league championships in 2023, 1996, 1992, 1965 and 1963.
How Did the National Championship Game Unfold?
The Dodgers fielded a stacked lineup for the championship, leading off with right fielder Zach Ehrhard followed by left fielder Josue De Paula, first baseman James Tibbs III, designated hitter Mike Sirota and center fielder Alek Thomas. Third baseman Ryan Fitzgerald batted sixth, with shortstop Noah Miller, second baseman Hyeseong Kim and catcher Bed Rortvedt rounding out the order.
Emmet Sheehan started for the Dodgers, but struggled towards the beginning of the game.
He allowed an RBI single in the first inning to put the Comets at a 1-0 deficit, and gave up a homer in the second to make the score 2-0.
The right-hander had a solid game altogether, though, as he threw 5.1 innings while striking out seven batters and allowing just the two earned runs.
Oklahoma City’s offense didn’t wake up until the eighth inning, when Sirota finally broke through—hitting an RBI single to bring home the team’s first run of the game. Fitzgerald came through with a huge double afterwards, driving in Sirota to tie the game.
Thomas had a big hit of his own in the top of the 10th inning, doubling with the bases loaded to bring home three runs. In the bottom of the 10th, Seth Halvorsen came back out following a strong two-out performance in the ninth, allowing one run but ultimately sealed the championship for the Comets.
What’s Next For the Comets?
Most of the players on the Comets will enter their offseason after Saturday’s result, but some of them are still eligible to join the team in the postseason.
De Paula and Sheehan are both likely candidates to make the team, and bullpen arms, like Kyle Hurt, Paul Gervase and Halvorsen are also looking for a spot in October.
The Dodgers play their final game of the season on Sunday then have a five-day period of rest before the NLDS, and will make their team selection shortly beforehand. Their final game of the season starts Sunday at 12:05 p.m. PT.
