Two champions were crowned at the intramural fields Sunday afternoon as the co-recreational and men’s softball tournaments came to a close.

Photo by Reid Bruner

Miracle on 38th St. won the co-recreational tournament championship game 5-1 over 633/Coliseum.

The title is the second consecutive tournament championship the team won.

“A bunch of us have been playing all four years,” senior team member Scooter Stein said. “About one half to two-thirds of this team played last year.”

The winners of the men’s softball tournament were the members of Slob, who defeated Angels in the Outfield 6-1.

Many of the players on Slob said they have been waiting four years to finally earn an intramural championship.

“We lost in the championship game freshman and sophomore years and lost last year in the first round,” senior team member Matt Foor said.

After coming close to securing an intramural title twice, Foor said he and his teammates were worthy of this year’s championship.

“The guys played hard and worked hard,” Foor said. “They deserved it.”

Softball was not the only intramural event still going on last week.

The four surviving teams of the men’s dodgeball tournament were ultimately cut down to one Thursday night at the Health and Recreation Center.

Average Joe’s defeated Fly Spy in the first semifinal match, and Great Balls of Fire advanced to the title game by outlasting Delt Seniors in the second match.

Photo by Reid Bruner

With the championship match set, the tournament concluded with a result reminiscent of the film “Dodgeball.”

Life imitated art as Average Joe’s defeated Great Balls of Fire to take the men’s dodgeball championship.

In the finale of the co-recreational dodgeball tournament Thursday night, The Rookies were victorious over Heavyweights.

By Michael Becker

During the last few years, the Butler men’s basketball team’s success has drawn its share of business to local restaurants and stores.

A majority of students, faculty, staff and alumni get their gear at the Butler Bookstore. The basketball season brings clusters of people out to equip their wardrobes for another season.

Bookstore manager Janine Frainier said basketball season is the busiest time of year. The success of the last two years have forced Frainier to expand the selection and variety so customers can constantly have more options.

“We have seen such an increase in traffic in the bookstore, especially with online orders [the last few years],” Frainier said. “We are building on a team that is already loved. Our goal is to make sure the students are as happy as we are.”

The Butler Bookstore has ordered 30 percent more merchandise this year compared to last, and fans are turning out in droves.

“We are packed an hour before every game, during the game and an hour after every game, along with the kiosk upstairs,” Shari Hagan, manager of the Spirit Shop in Hinkle Fieldhouse, said.

Businesses outside of Butler’s realm have also responded to the basketball success.

John Mybeck, CEO of Strategic Marketing Affiliates, Butler’s licensing agency, said many retailers have increased the number of Butler products that they offer year-round.

Places including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Finish Line, LIDS, Kohl’s, Old Navy, Kroger and CVS all began offering Butler sportswear for the first time in 2010.

Mybeck said approximate retail sales of Butler University licensed products increased by 55 percent from 2009 to 2010 when they amounted to $2.4 million in sales. 2011 brought even more staggering sales of about $8 million.

“The success that [Brad] Stevens and the Butler basketball program have achieved has been a big factor in the increase in demand for Butler licensed products both within the campus community and across the country,” Mybeck said.

Rob Sabatini, who owns Average Joe’s Sports Pub as well as the Mineshaft Saloon and Rock Lobster, said business stays booming year-round with football and basketball.

He said most of the excitement begins once the NFL ends, and the busiest time ever was during Butler’s Final Four game last year.

“We did not have any chairs or stools available in any of my three places,” Sabatini said. “When the tournament rolls around, we love when Butler, Purdue and Notre Dame play at different times. We can show and benefit from all the games.”