Editor’s Note: The information for ways you can support this page is at the bottom of this story.

Dear 210 Prep Sports Readers:

This is my 26th year covering high school and college sports, but I’m sure the vast majority of you don’t know my name.

I’m Brian, and over the decades, my “freelance” work has been published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram, OC Register, Long Beach Register (2013-14), SGV Tribune, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News, Pasadena Star News and some online only sites.

In 2019, I finally accepted the fact that online coverage was both the present and the future of high school and local college sports.

With all the websites out there, I wanted to give my potential readers a reason to give my page and me a chance.

It all started with 30 phone calls/text messages to people involved in coaching, playing or covering sports, and all the names I considered got narrowed down to Foothill Prep Sports and 210 Prep Sports.

By a vote of 29-1, 210 Prep Sports was the domain I purchased.

All of the newspapers listed above had a specific coverage zone with multiple writers and desk people to get the job done.

It also came with instructions as to how much many inches to write, what time they needed it (a deadline) and so on.

The bosses would determine what games were worthy of sending staff writers, freelancers and photographers.

For my site, I’ve adopted the attitude that every program matters, whether they sat in the penthouse or the cellar of their respective leagues.

As long as that program sent me the info needed, I did not and will not shut my computer down until every email is processed and posted on 210 Prep Sports.

I also wanted to stretch my coverage zone as widely as I could, and I chose Etiwanda to La Canada, which is a 41-mile stretch along the 210 freeway.

Because of prior relationships with Covina, West Covina, Northview and South Hills, I added those four schools to the list.

Along the way, a Rio Hondo Prep mom asked me very nicely for coverage, and they’ve been very supportive to the site.

Initially, I wanted to give readers at least a couple years of the best coverage possible that one person could produce before I started seeking advertising and donations.

Two years has turned into six, and the time has finally come to humbly ask for your support.

Ideally, one day I’d like to have the funds to hire help and make the page even more diverse.

I’d venture to guess that most of you don’t know that I literally do all the work myself.

Most nights include anywhere between 8-10 hours of processing emails (with info), chasing down stats on MaxPreps, Game Changer and other modes of information gathering.

I always tell coaches, “I’ll have the story up before normal people wake up,” because it’s a rarity that I’m able to shut my computer down before 6 am.

During football season, Friday nights begin around 10 when I get home from a game, and it usually ends approximately 10 hours later after processing the photos and information sent my way.

I’ve also been to every CIF State Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield for this page’s entire run.

I’ve driven to San Francisco to cover Northview in the state football finals, and this past December, I was on hand for Mt. SAC’s state title tilt at the College of San Mateo.

All of these events have come out of pocket.

My long-term goal is to have ONE fundraiser at the end of each sports season, as well as leaving a donation app in stories for people who would like to support this site’s work.

Eventually, seeking advertising dollars to allow this page to grow will be paramount.

I am attempting to provide as many apps as possible, so potential donations are the easiest and safest for each of you.

I fully recognize that we’ve had massive fires and just made it through tax season, so not everyone is in a place to help.

However, anything, including $5-10 donations will help, and it will be greatly appreciated.

If you’ve regularly read my game stories and features, I’m certain that you’ve noticed they are far more comprehensive and personal than any other site.

My goal in game stories is to give the reader everything they could possibly want to know, including the final scores, quarter-by-quarter or inning-by-inning score totals, records, upcoming schedule, photos, quotes and more, so they don’t have to visit MaxPreps or Game Changer.

Over the last five years, I’m the only page/writer to cover JC baseball and football fulltime for Pasadena City College, Mt. SAC, Citrus and Chaffey College.

I hope to be able to continue this coverage with your help.

It is my passion, and the schools, programs, coaches and athletes within my 40-school zone mean everything to my site and me.

Sincerely,

Brian Reed-Baiotto

Here’s How You Can Help:

Thank you to anyone who donates.

Any amount is helpful and greatly appreciated.