Martin rules again in 15th

By ROCKY STANLEY -- The Independent

May 16, 2008 10:25 pm

— For Lawrence County junior Nathan Martin, winning the 15th Region boys singles tennis championship has become a rite of spring.
Martin made it four in a row by defeating Paintsville’s Zach Hughes 6-4, 6-1 this week in a match that began in Prestonsburg and finished up in Ashland.
“It’s a pretty good feeling to win for the fourth time in a row,’’ said the soft-spoken Martin, a 16-year-old with a big forehand.
Martin led 6-4, 4-0 at Archer Park in Prestonsburg on Wednesday when rain stopped play. Because of a wet forecast for the rest of the week, tournament officials contacted the Ashland Tennis Center and received permission to complete the tournament on the indoor courts there Wednesday afternoon.
Hughes won the first game after the match was resumed, but Martin took the next two games to close it out.
“He’s a good player,’’ Martin said of Hughes, the only player to take a game off Martin in the tournament. “The first set, I didn’t play too good. I hit a bunch of forehands into the net. I started playing better in the second set.’’
Martin is undefeated this season and hopes to be seeded in the top eight at next week’s State Tournament at the University of Kentucky.
“Right now, Nathan is the best player east of Lexington,’’ said Lawrence County coach Chad Williams. “He’s got power and the ability to go on the offensive and hit winners.’’
Morgan County swept the 15th Region boys and girls team titles.
In girls doubles, Lacy May and Emily McKenzie of Morgan County won their fourth consecutive regional title by rolling past teammates Ali Gregory and Monika McCowan 6-0, 6-1.
Magoffin County’s Amelia Watkins defeated Pikeville’s Shikha Sachdeva 6-0, 6-1 for the singles crown.
The boys doubles title went to Johnson Central’s Jared Fyffe-Caudill and Coty Marcum, who defeated Morgan County’s Parker May and Jared Curd 6-2, 7-5.
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 329-2671.