Yankees back Aaron Judge after criticism from Little League coach - ESPN

NEW YORK — The Yankees fiercely defended Aaron Judge after South Shore Little League coach Bob Laterza criticized the star slugger for, in his eyes, not paying enough attention to his team Sunday when the Yankees traveled to play in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

In a statement, the Yankees called Judge «one of the great ambassadors of our sport» and noted that «our roster spent the day in Williamsport connecting with as many Little Leaguers as they possibly could prior to our team, including the team from Staten Island.»

Laterza told the Staten Island Advance that several Yankees — including manager Aaron Boone, ace Gerrit Cole and outfielder Jasson Dominguez — met with his team before the Yankees' game against the Detroit Tigers, adding that Judge wasn't one of them.

Laterza on Tuesday said Judge ignored his players when they called his name while he was on the on-deck circle in the Yankees' loss at Bowman Field, leaving his team disappointed.

«How about turning around or [waving] to New York and the kids that think you're a hero,» Laterza said. «They are the ones who pay your salary.»

The Yankees on Wednesday said the schedule wasn't organized by «the Yankees nor our players» and that «because Staten Island played on Sunday, our players went out of their way to spend time with them in the moments immediately before our game» against the Tigers.

«We wish Staten Island success in winning the championship,» the Yankees' statement said. «Win or lose, we intend to invite them to Yankee Stadium. However, it would have been much better if Staten Island's Coach called us to understand the facts before bitterly reacting in such a public fashion. Reaching out to us would have been the prudent way to