DETROIT — Aaron Boone’s 12-year-old Little League team in Southern California never came close to reaching Williamsport, but he eventually got there as an ESPN broadcaster.
So the Yankees manager has an idea of what his players are going for Sunday — as long as the weather doesn’t get in the way — when the Yankees visit the Little League World Series complex before playing the Tigers in the Little League Classic at Bowman Field.
“To pull it up for the first time was amazing,” Boone said Saturday before a 4-0 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park. “Everything I imagined and dreamed of and maybe more. To be able to do it over the years and see major league teams come in, it’s a neat experience. I know our boys will love it.
“Looking forward to it [Sunday]to arrive, rub shoulders with some of the Little League World Series players and hang out with them — obviously, you know how excited they’re going to be to meet some of our guys. It’s an awesome day and something we’re lucky to get to do.”
As long as the weather cooperates, of course.
The forecast in Williamsport calls for storms Sunday, but at least as of Saturday afternoon, the Yankees planned to fly there Sunday morning to mingle with Little Leaguers and then try to get the game in.
If postponed, the teams could fly back to Detroit on Sunday night and play the series finale at Comerica Park on Monday.
Such a scenario would be a headache from a travel perspective for the Yankees, but Boone was confident his players would enjoy playing the role in the Little League World Series.
“I just know from my experience and knowing what we’re going into that they’re going to love it,” Boone said. “I have spoken to [Aaron Judge] little about it, I know he’s looking forward to it. These kids are obviously going to be in awe of some of our guys, especially Aaron and Juan [Soto] and Giancarlo [Stanton] and Gerrit [Cole]. But they will walk away excited about the experience.”