Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton and courtesy of the Tedford Family
The Jasper community is coming together to support one of its own with a special Baseball Alumni Game fundraiser on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. at the Jasper High School Baseball Field.
Hosted in partnership with Jasper High School Athletics and local sponsors, the event will raise funds for alumnus Michael Tedford and his family as he battles cancer.
Michael has been overcoming obstacles since he was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of three. His father, Wayne, recalls a time when Michael’s blood sugar was dangerously high, yet he was still throwing a football in the hospital waiting room.
“The doctor told us he should have been in a coma, but that’s just how Michael is—tough,” Wayne says.
That same grit carried him through an impressive athletic career at Jasper, where he excelled in football, baseball, and basketball, earning a spot as a starter in all three sports. He continued playing baseball at the collegiate level for four years and later returned to Jasper as a volunteer coach in the athletic department.
Now, at 31, Michael is facing a new battle. He is undergoing chemotherapy while continuing to work and provide for his wife, Abby, and their young daughter, Blair. Despite the toll of treatment, he remains resilient.
“The last chemo session knocked him down for a couple of days, but by Monday, he was back at work,” Wayne says.
Jasper Athletics Director Jonathan Jordan emphasizes what Michael means to the program and the town.
“Mike was a great player here and has worked in our athletic department as a volunteer coach. His family has been there for us for years; now it’s our turn to support them. Many times, in situations like this, people ask what they can do to help but don’t really do much to help. When some of his former teammates approached us about putting something together, we were thrilled to be included and knew this was a tangible way where we could help. We pray that this alumni game makes a difference in some small way during Mike’s recovery process.”
Jasper Viking Baseball Head Coach Pat Ware echoes Jordan’s sentiments and speaks to the deep-rooted bonds within the program.
“Michael means a lot to me personally, not just as a former player, but as a part of our coaching staff and our baseball family. When one of our own is going through something, we all feel it. That’s what Viking Baseball is about, just being there for each other. This alumni game is a way for us to show up for Michael the way he’s always shown up for us.”
Tickets for the event are priced at $8, and all proceeds will go directly to the Tedford family. Special event T-shirts will be available, and attendees will also be entered into a drawing for door prizes donated by local businesses. For those who want to contribute but can’t make it in person, donations will be accepted through Venmo.
For Wayne, the outpouring of support for his son has been overwhelming but not surprising.
“People know Michael, love him, and have always supported him. It means the world to us. You can’t repay kindness like that, but that’s what people around here do; they see a need and step up to help.” WL
