Having returned from one of the greatest adventures of his life, Cottonwood resident Romano Scaturro sat in his chair and reflected on what the entire experience meant to him, and to those surrounding him.
“I’m glad I did it now instead of 10 years from now,” Scaturro said with a big grin on his face that could stretch across America. “I’ve been wanting to take this trip for some time now, and I’m glad I did it.”
Although his smile may not reach across the United States, his bicycle surely did as Scaturro rode nearly 10,000 miles across country in a six-month period while on the 2010 Major League Baseball Stadium Tour.
Scaturro visited every MLB ballpark this summer, starting in Houston in the beginning of April watching the Houston Astros and the San Francisco Giants on opening day.
From Houston, Scaturro jumped on his bike the next day and made the four-day trek to Arlington, Texas, where he saw the Texas Rangers play.
“It’s funny now that the season is over, because the first two teams I saw wound up playing in the biggest series there is,” Scaturro said, again with a big smile.
The Giants played the Rangers in the 2010 Fall Classic last month, with the Giants coming out on top to claim the World Series championship.
Although Scaturro spent countless hours by himself on the back roads of America, the 47-year-old cyclist knew two young kids were with him at all times in spirit.
Jaiah and Jillian Grondin, ages 7 and 4, tragically lost their mother and father in the fall of 2009.
Scaturro thought the best way he could help the family was to make his trip all about these two kids, and he raised nearly $5,000 in the process.
“I wanted to do something good. Everything I did was out of my own pocket, any money I got in donation is going directly two those two young kids,” Scaturro said. “There was never a time it crossed my mind this trip shouldn’t be for them.”
Originally from Thousand Oaks, Calif., Scaturro earned his international business degree from San Jose State University in 1987. Scaturro married his wife, Tatrice, and the pair have since had four children.
Scaturro ended his tour in Seattle, where he saw the Seattle Mariners play at the end of the summer to complete his journey.
“It was physically and mentally taxing. I just want to thank Jim Bostwick and Wilson Cutbirth for riding with me during parts of this tour. They were great,” Scaturro said.
Since his cross-country ride is complete, Scaturro has one more thing to accomplish before setting this year’s trip to bed for good.
On Sunday, Dec. 12, Scaturro plans to host a presentation ceremony for Jaiah and Jillian Grondin in Cottonwood.
Between now and then, Scaturro encourages people to donate toward a good cause. Those interested can contact Scaturro at
634-1983 for more information.
“I just want to thank everyone for their support, it was a great ride,” Scaturro said.
