Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Home Darke County Arcanum Opens Season with Win Over Versailles Behind Stephens, Christ

Arcanum Opens Season with Win Over Versailles Behind Stephens, Christ

Stephens drives in all four runs while Christ strikes out 10 in strong opener

Regan Christ earns Arcanum non-conference season opener over Versailles Tigers. (Jim Freeman photo)

VERSAILLES — Arcanum opened the 2026 season with a strong performance, using
timely hitting and dominant pitching to defeat Versailles 4-1 in cold opening-day conditions.

The Trojans set the tone immediately in the top of the first inning. Regan Christ started off the hitting with a double, Kramer was hit by a pitch, and Kearny drew a walk to load the bases. Luke Stephens followed with a hard-hit ball down the first base line, driving in Christ and Kramer to give Arcanum an early 2-0 lead.

Arcanum’s Luke Stephens gives the Trojans an early 2-0 lead with a 2-run RBI hit at Versailles. (Jim Freeman photo)

The early lead proved to be all the Trojans would need, thanks to Christ’s performance on the mound. He worked efficiently throughout the game, striking out 10 batters while limiting Versailles to just one run and keeping hitters off balance from start to finish.

Versailles got a run on the board in the third on a Sam Deland sacrifice fly to right field,
scoring Barga. They would threaten again in the fifth but did not get any more runs across
the plate.

Between Christ’s pitching and the Trojan infield anchored by Kolten Quigney at shortstop scooping up everything hit on the ground, the Tigers would be held scoreless the rest of the game.

Arcanum surehanded Kolten Quigney makes a play for the Trojans in win over Versailles. (Jim Freeman photo)

Bishop Cartwright took the mound for Acanum in the sixth and pitched two shutout innings.

Luke Stephens stepped to the plate in the 7th with the bases loaded again, and as he did in the first inning, he delivered with a line drive to center, driving in two insurance runs for the Trojans.

Bishop Cartwright picks up save for Arcanum in non-conference win over Versailles. (Jim Freeman photo)

“That was huge,” said Arcanum coach Randy Baker. “Coming up with two outs there in the seventh to get those two extra runs. We needed them. They (Versailles) got guys on base at the end of the game. Very proud of him, did a nice job.

Ian Bergman took the loss for the Tigers, pitching five innings, allowing two runs on three
hits. He struck out three and walked four.

Regan Christ got the win, pitching five innings, giving up one run on four hits and no
walks.

Arcanum sophomore Landon Brewer dives safely back into second in Trojans’ win at Versailles. (Jim Freeman photo)