Yankees' lineup to be introduced by Long Island Little League teams on YES Network

Fans who watch the YES Network telecasts know that Little League teams always introduce the Yankees’ lineup for games on Sundays, and it’s Long Island’s turn to join the fun.

Glen Cove’s 9U team will introduce the Yankees’ starting lineup on the YES Network in the top of the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. Game time is 2:15 p.m.

Port Washington’s 8U team will do the same thing the following Sunday against Boston.

“We always love to highlight kids,” YES Network senior director of creative content Blayke Scheer said. “We’re big fans of the Little League World Series here.”

Bethpage’s 10U team introduced the Yankees a week ago against Houston. Nicole Brisette had emailed YES to see if her son Anthony and his Bethpage teammates could participate.

“We had a great experience,” Brisette said. “We were away at a tournament in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, when we got to do the lineup so we were filming in between innings. The boys were very excited.”

Sunday's starting lineup from Bethpage Eagles 10U ⚾️💥 pic.twitter.com/N9Zyao73Fl

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 10, 2025

But on Sunday it’s Glen Cove’s turn, with parent and longtime Yankees fan Vanessa Ruggeri having reached out to the network.

“I already had my son saying, ‘Mom, you’re the one who set it up, so do I get to choose my player?’ ” Ruggeri said, laughing. “These boys are pretty easygoing . . . I think they’re just excited to have this opportunity in the first place.”

YES lead producer Troy Benjamin thought of the idea in 2022, with Scheer — a class of 2000 Port Washington graduate — taking part in making the concept a reality. Teams apply via email, and the response was so heavy that Scheer said she had to close the application process in mid-July.

Scheer said that while Aaron Judge is an obvious favorite for Little Leaguers to introduce, Anthony Volpe is another highly-sought-after player to be announced.

“It’s some of the kids’ favorite memories,” Scheer said. “They get to have that moment for the rest of their lives.”

When Port Washington gets its chance to make introductions next Sunday against the Red Sox, there’ll be an extra level of pride burning in Scheer.

“It’s one of my greatest pleasures, to give back to my town,” she said. “To be able to now be in this position where I can offer kids from Port Washington the opportunity to do it, I feel great.”