Barry Patton and Graham Stevens retire from Southland representative softball in 1983.......

Graham Stevens.

It is 1983 and Southland Softball were looking at retirements and unavailability of players at the representative level. The worry would be that there was not a lot of new blood coming through the ranks.  Of the 17 players from 1982, pitcher, Barry Patton (Panthers), first base, Graham Stevens (Cardinals), and pitcher, short stop, outfielder, Roger Keith (Cardinals) all retired.  Chris McDonald (Demons) had work commitments, along with Kerry Grace (Cardinals) - to Wellington and Paul Hogan.  Edgar Potter (Demons) also joined the list and made himself unavailable.

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There was still a lot of old heads out there with the likes of Russell Frisby, Colin Telfer, and Jamie Campbell - all Demons.
Royden Thompson (Panthers) was having his fourth season with the team, along with other team members, Ian McMurdo, David Beadle, Peter McMinn and John Cameron.  
Southland was well served by its pitching pair of Ross Mackie and Greg Newton.
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Graham Latta wrote in The Southland Times 1983, that two of the most experienced softball players had announced their retirement from representative play.
Barry Patton and Graham Stevens called it a day.
Barry Patton

First represented Southland in the 1967-68 season.
Missed only one season in the 15 years - which was 1981-82.
Understudy to New Zealand and Southland pitcher, Garth Tattersfield.
No 1 pitcher in 1973......1979
With emerging young talent in Roger Keith, Rex Pankhurst, Ross Mackie and Greg Newton - was able to step back.
Pitched Southland to win over Hutt Valley at Nationals in 1982.
Biggest hitter he came accross was Max Moate formerly of Auckland.

Graham Stevens

Debut in 1969  and dominated first base for 14 years.
Career highlight 1969-70 - nationals at Surrey Park, where Southland was beaten into third place.
The same year he, along with Alun Pennicott was named in the New Zealand colts team to play the touring United States.
Cardinals took the John Lennon national inter-club title from the champion Miramar (Wellington) team in a great 4-3 final.
Superb batter.
Along with Tattersfield, John Purdue, Bill Somerville and Noel Eade was a final trialist for the 1972 New Zealand team which toured South Africa and played in the Manila World Series. Missed selection.
Member of the South Island that beat North Island 1-0 in 1980.

Reference:  Latta, Graham.  Experienced Core Absent.  The Southland Times.                                 November 25, 1983
                    Latta, Graham.  Patton and Stevens Call It A Day.  The Southland Times
                    November 4, 1983.

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