WASHINGTON -- DaShall House Speed often lives vicariously through her son, Langston Speed, because of his opportunities by way of the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy.
House Speed felt especially jealous of her son last year, when Anthony Rendon called Langston by his first name during the Nationals' All-Star logo reveal at Nationals Park, or in 2016, when Langston came home thrilled after playing ball with Rendon, Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth at the Academy.
"Langston doesn't get excited about much," House Speed said. "That is probably hands down his best experience he'll never forget."
Langston, 12, spoke about his experiences over his four years with the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy during the reveal for an All-Star Pavilion at the Academy on Wednesday afternoon.
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The 2,880-square-foot pavilion includes an open-air space that covers four short-throw batting cages. The cages are covered and will allow youngsters to practice in an open and airy environment. The pavilion also features an outdoor gathering area with picnic tables for the Academy's farmers' market and community use.
The Nationals Youth Baseball Academy offers free, year-round baseball and softball instruction, as well as educational and sports-related vocational programing, such as SAT/ACT classes, broadcasting and homework aid. The Academy's mission, as listed on its website, is "to use the sports of baseball and softball as vehicles to foster positive character development, academic achievement and improved health among youth from underserved communities in Washington, D.C."
There are also MLB Academies in Cincinnati, Compton (Calif.), Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Gurabo (Puerto Rico).
"This place has been very unique to me," Langston said in front of the pavilion. "Because one, I got to learn the sport of baseball and learn how to love the sport of baseball. Two, I got to do it with my friends, who became my best friends, who became my teammates. And three, I learned how to be successful and be a scholar athlete and be a hard worker on and off the field."
Baseball has been Langston's favorite sport since he was 3, but he didn't have the resources to develop and learn from coaches until he joined the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy at its opening in 2014. Langston has played with multiple club teams, and all of them meet at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, since it features multiple fields and classrooms, which makes travel easier.
In addition to meeting Nationals players, Langston has toured Nationals Park, watched batting practice from the field and high-fived players as they ran onto the field before a game.
"It's probably been the best thing that's ever happened to him," House Speed said.
As Langston delivered his speech, his teammates from "Team Hustle" watched with smiles from the back of the small crowd. They received bags from the Nationals with merchandise, including bobbleheads from the 2017 season.
At the end of his 100-second address, Langston yelled "Let's play ball!" About five minutes later, even as Nationals and MLB officials still roamed the facility, Langston and his teammates were throwing and hitting in the new pavilion.