It wasn't necessarily the smoothest ride for Triple-A Oklahoma City. But with a roster that blended young talent and veteran leadership, first-year manager Bill Haselman found the right mix to thrive.

"I just try to take as much pressure off of them as possible and almost become one of them in a different way so they can just relax and play," the 13-year big league veteran said. "Fortunately, we also had the players to help do that. We signed a lot of six-year free agents, guys with a lot of character who grind it out. As you know, the season is very long, so it's great to have players like that on your club."

The Dodgers clinched their second straight Pacific Coast League American Northern Division title on Sunday night as No. 2 prospect Jose De Leon recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts in a 6-1 win over visiting Colorado Springs.

It was the second straight division title for Haselman, who guided Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga to its first California League crown last season.

"It was a great year," he said. "We've had a great core group of players all season and with all of the different transactions that happened this year, the guys kept it together, even with so many things circulating. I'm really happy with them and for them. It's been a great year for a great group of guys."

De Leon (7-1), MLB.com's No. 37 overall prospect, paved the way to the playoffs by coming within one of his career high for strikeouts. He allowed four hits and no walks over 7 2/3 scoreless innings has not surrendered a run in three straight starts. The 24-year-old right-hander has fanned 40 and walked one over his last 28 2/3 frames.

Video: Oklahoma City's De Leon whiffs 13th batter

"His last two starts, especially, have been something else," Haselman said. "He's going after hitters relentlessly with his fastball and change and just attacking guys. He's not afraid to pitch in or wherever he has to. He has that mentality, and the way he competes on the mound is something special. I've had him over the last several years, too, and he's as competitive as they come. He has a very special future ahead of him."

Dodgers No. 10 prospect Austin Barnes' sixth homer broke a scoreless tie in the seventh and Oklahoma City tacked on five runs in the eighth. Barnes drove in another run with an infield hit, while Drew Maggi, O'Koyea Dickson and Corey Brown had the other RBIs.

Haselman also credited the boisterous home crowd of 6,631 that came out to see Oklahoma City's final regular-season home game.

"You could feel the energy from the crowd over the last couple of innings," he said. "We were scoreless through six and Barnesy hit that homer, which got everybody going. But, yeah, the crowd really great tonight."

Oklahoma City will face Nashville in the best-of-5 PCL semifinals.