Epic day as Lake County players dominate

There are a lot of people surprised that Lake Zurich freshman Michael Redlicki, a No. 9-16 seed, is still alive in the winner's bracket.

Just not Stevenson junior Blake Bazarnik.

"I've had to play my best tennis this year to beat him," said Bazarnik, a 2-3 seed. "I expected to see him in the semifinals."

And so Bazarnik and Redlicki, a 6-foot-6 lefty, will play their fourth match of the season at 9 a.m. today at Prospect in a state semifinal. This was just one of the great storylines that played out on a banner day for Lake County tennis.

The other semifinal pits Warren senior Denis Bogatov, the defending state champion and a 3-4 seed, against No. 1 seed Michael Moore (Glenbrook South). Bogatov is trying to become the first player since 1986 to win consecutive state tiels.

Thanks in large part to a stirring come-from-behind victory by No. 2-3 seed Ross Putterman/David Packowitz in the state doubles quarterfinal, Stevenson (36 points) is in a three-way tie for first place in the team standings. The Patriots are knotted with Hinsdale Central and New Trier.

Redlicki attributed his two victories Friday to the way he attacked each point.

"If you're not aggressive at this level, you don't exist out there," he said.

Redlicki began by disposing Glenbrook South junior Ben Hoogland, a No. 5-8 seed. He dominated the first set 6-2 and closed out Hoogland 6-4. In his second match, against No. 3-4 seed Robert Stineman of New Trier, he played even better. The result was 6-1, 6-2 thrashing.

Redlicki estimated that he was 0-10 against Stineman going into the match.

"I played out of my mind," he said.

Redlicki is playing loose and enjoying the state-tournament atmosphere.

"There's no pressure on me because I'm going up against higher seeds," he said.

After losing in the state quarterfinals the last two years, this will be Bazarnik's first trip to the semifinals. He posted victories Friday against Oak Park-River Forest's Michael Jacobs (6-2, 6-1) and Hinsdale Central's Krishna Ravella (6-2, 6-4).

In the regular season, Bazarnik won his first meeting with Redlicki in three sets and the second in straight sets. In the sectional semifinals May 23, Bazarnik scored a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

"I just need to stay consistent and do what I've done all season," Bazarnik said.

Bogatov, who will play next year at Michigan State, knew he had to be ready in his opening match Friday against Stevenson senior Etham Frenkel (Tulane).

"He has such a huge game," said Bogatov, following his 6-1, 6-3 victory. "The key was to work the points, and take it early when he kicked up his second serve."

Next, Bogatov topped Hinsdale Central's Augie Bloom (6-1, 6-3). Bogatov, who iced his back after each victory, also is battling a slight strain in his right shoulder.

He said the pace on his serve improved throughout the day.

"I was serving it almost as hard as I normally do," he said.

Historically, Bogatov has had success against Moore, a Notre Dame recruit. But in their most recent meet, Moore defeated Bogatov 6-3, 5-7 (10-8) in the finals of the Liberty Belle Invitational on April 11. With Bogatov serving to stave off match point, a string on his racquet snapped. The match was played with no add scoring and a 10-point tiebreaker for the third set.

In the fourth round, Moore defeated Mundelein junior Alex Golovin 6-2, 6-2.

"I stayed with him in the beginning but I was never able to match his play," Golovin said.

With the singles play complete, the focus shifted to the quarterfinal doubles matches that were still going on. After winning the first set 6-1, Putterman and Packowitz lost the second set 7-5 to Rockford Guilford's Austin Roos and Danny Park.

Roos and Park, a No. 5-8 seed, went up 4-2 in the third set against Putterman/Packowitz. After the Stevenson boys staved off a pair of game points, rain suspended play for more than 40 minutes.

"That was good because it gave them a chance to cool off; we were playing scared," Packowitz said.

After play resumed at 40-40, Rockford Guilford won another game to surge ahead 5-2.

"I was a little nervous that it wasn't going to happen," Putterman said.

Instead, the duo ripped off the next three games. Roos and Parks won the next game for a 6-5 lead, but Putterman held serve for 6-6 with a clutch ace.

"It was pure adrenaline," Packowitz said. "Who would blink first?

After dropping the first three points in the tiebreak, the Stevenson boys won six of the final seven points. An ace by Packowitz ended the match.

"I told him to go big or go home," Putterman said with a smile. "And he served it wide for an ace."