Prep Tennis: Casey's Leigh wins regional championship in girls singles

Tylyn Leigh of Casey County won her first regional championship Tuesday, defeating Mercer County’s Caitlin Baer to win the girls singles title in the 12th Region Tournament at Berea.
Top-seeded Leigh won a match that had been suspended due to rain Monday, taking four of six games after play was resumed Tuesday to complete a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over second-seeded Baer.
It was the third victory of the season for Leigh over Baer, and it was the Casey junior’s 18th consecutive singles win.
Leigh ascended to the top of the region after losing in the second round of last year’s regional, where she was unseeded. This spring she went 14-0 during the regular season, then won three regional matches in straight sets before her three-set victory in the championship.
Leigh and Baer were locked in a virtual tie when the match was stopped Monday. They had split four games in the third set, and Leigh led the interrupted game by a single point.
Baer shared the regional doubles title last season before switching to singles for her senior year. Her only losses within the region this season were to Leigh.
Both girls will advance to the state tournament May 17-19 in Lexington. Baer will also play Saturday for Mercer, which clinched the team championship Monday, in a sectional tournament for four regional winners.