Local pair sets history on baseball diamond and golf links on Sunday

By Richard Walker

A pair of former local athletic standouts set personal history on Sunday within only a few hours of each other.

Shortly after former South Point High baseball standout Jeffrey Springs recorded his first pitching save as the Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, former Forestview golfing standout Harold Varner III had the best finish of his PGA career.

Springs retired the side in the ninth inning of Tampa Bay’s 4-2 win at Yankee Stadium. It improved the 2011 South Point High graduate to 0-0 with one save and a 1.29 ERA in seven appearances this season.

It was the 67th pitching appearance of Springs’ major league career that began with the Texas Rangers (2018-19) and Boston Red Sox (2020).

Varner III finished tied for second in the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C.

Varner, a 2008 Forestview High graduate, shot a consistent 66-68-69-66 over the four-day event to finish three shots behind winner Stewart Cink.

It was Varner’s first top 10 finish this season and 21st of his career.

Varner’s previous best came in July 2018 at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier when he tied for fifth place.