The New York Yankees have issued a strong response to a Little League coach who publicly criticized star player Aaron Judge for not interacting with his team during the recent Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Bob Laterza, coach of the Staten Island team, expressed his disappointment that Judge did not acknowledge his players during the Yankees' game against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Laterza voiced his frustration to silive.com, urging Judge to "turn around or wave to New York and the kids that think you're a hero" and suggesting that the young players are the ones who contribute to the MLB star's salary. He also expressed his dissatisfaction that Judge did not specifically greet his New York-based team, unlike other Yankees players, coaches, and alumni who interacted one-on-one with his players.

Unimpressed by the coach's public outburst, the Yankees released a fiery statement in response. They acknowledged their intention to invite Laterza's team to Yankee Stadium, regardless of the outcome of their games. However, they expressed disappointment in the coach's lack of communication with the team, noting that reaching out to understand the facts would have been a more prudent approach.

The statement from the Yankees emphasized that Aaron Judge consistently acts with kindness and respect towards fans. The team suggested that Laterza could learn from Judge's exemplary behavior and set a positive example for his young players.

Laterza's team was unfortunately eliminated from the Little League World Series on Tuesday. Despite the coach's grievances, Judge was seen interacting with kids and taking selfies on the field before the Yankees' game. He also spent time in the crowd, engaging with fans during one of the Little League games.

The Yankees commended all of their players for dedicating their attention to the young baseball players and their families throughout their time in Williamsport. The team emphasized their commitment to creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for meaningful interactions between the Little League participants and some of MLB's greatest players.

In addition to his recent complaints, Laterza has used the media attention to bring up a past controversy in the Little League World Series. Referring to an age scandal involving pitcher Danny Almonte in 2001, Laterza mentioned that his team had lost against Almonte's Bronx-based team in sectionals that year. Laterza claims to have previously tried to expose the age discrepancy of Almonte, who was revealed by a Sports Illustrated investigation to be 14 years old instead of 12.

Reflecting on the past, Laterza expressed frustration that his concerns were not taken seriously at the time. He mentioned spending a significant amount of money on detectives to investigate the matter and has been quoted throughout the years as an aggrieved party in retrospective stories discussing the Almonte controversy.

As the Little League World Series draws to a close, the incident involving Bob Laterza's criticism of Aaron Judge has sparked a debate about the responsibilities of professional athletes towards their young fans. The Yankees have displayed their support for their players while also stressing the importance of respectful communication and positive role models.