Prairie’s Baba captures third district tennis singles title

Prairie senior Akari Baba won her third consecutive 3A district singles title, defeating Columbia River sophomore Lauren Skelly 6-0, 6-1 at Club Green Meadows on Saturday.

Baba dropped just the one game in her three district tournament matches.

Against hard-hitting Skelly, Baba said her strategy was simple: “Hit (the ball) earlier and be out in front.”

Baba, who placed third at 3A state last year, advances to the bi-district tournament as defending champion. The top three at district move on to bi-district next weekend where five will advance to state.

Skelly, seeded No. 3, reached the final with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Fort Vancouver’s Angelina Polina, the No. 2 seed.

Baba defeated Kelso’s Lisa Karnofski 6-0, 6-0 in the other semifinal.

In doubles, Prairie’s Josie Sullivan and Hailey Miracle placed third to earn a spot at bi-district.

Fort Vancouver’s Emma Nellor and Selorm Tamakloe won the doubles championship over Columbia River, and Polina placed third in singles to advance to bi-district.

Prairie won the team title with 27 points, topping Columbia River’s 25.