Issaquah Eagles 2016 graduate Jack Dellinger will play Division I baseball 2,170 miles from the friendly confines of his hometown.

Dellinger, who was one of the Eagles top pitchers on the bump this past season, announced his commitment to the Purdue University baseball program on July 17. Dellinger had originally planned on playing for Lower Columbia Community College this spring but couldn’t pass up the chance to play Division I collegiate baseball.

“It is really all I have been thinking about throughout my high school career,” Dellinger said. “To finally accomplish it is a weight off of my shoulders. Now I can finally slow down a little bit, get my sights refocused and just enjoy what is lying ahead of me.”

Dellinger, who is playing with the Lakeside baseball program over the summer, will leave for West Lafayette on Aug. 15. A trip to Purdue’s campus in July was all it took for him to make his decision.

“I fell in love with the campus and everything there,” he said.

Dellinger said Lower Columbia Community College head coach Eddie Smith was disappointed to lose Dellinger to Purdue but also supported his decision.

“He (Smith) told me to follow my heart and do what felt right to me,” Dellinger said. “He was understanding because ultimately one of his jobs is to move players on to the next level. This just happened quicker than expected.”

Dellinger’s said his favorite pitch right now is his slider but he is constantly trying to fine tune his game in order to gain an advantage against hitters.

“I have been working on a cutter (pitch) that looks like a fastball but really isn’t one,” he said.