The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have a team in the post-season. The Butte Copper Kings, their Pioneer League affiliate, earned a spot with a 12-3 win at Billings, Mont., Sunday night. The Kings will qualify as second-half champions or as the wild-card team, depending on the Idaho Falls-Ogden series.
Either way, the Kings (21-14 in the second half, 37-34 overall) will open the best-of-three Southern Division playoffs Tuesday night in Ogden, Utah. The Kings finish the regular season tonight at Billings.
_ MARC TOPKIN