LOVELAND - The decision to go across the country to college drew mixed reviews with Jackson Lux and his family.

“Obviously it’s pretty far away, but I’m willing to make that sacrifice if I need to if it means getting to the next level,” the Loveland senior said about making a commitment to the University of the Pacific. “Even if I stayed in Ohio, I wasn’t going to be coming home. My parents, on the other hand, are not as ready to have me go all the way to Cally, but I know it’s a good choice.”

It was the winter of 2020 when Pacific first reached out to Lux.

“They knew my summer ball coaches and I talked to them about being a 2022 uncommitted,” the 12th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in Ohio reflected. “I sent them video and stayed in touch with them all throughout the summer.

“They came to Texas and then another tournament to see me and that’s when they extended an offer. It was mid-summer. I accepted it when we were done with our last tournament of the year on the way back from Florida. I knew it was where I wanted to go.”

While an official visit to the college in Stockton, Calif., will take place on Oct. 22, Lux has gone on a virtual tour of the campus.

“I knew whenever I went to college I wanted to go somewhere warmer, to Florida or out west,” the 58th-ranked 2022 in Ohio said about Pacific. “The numbers added up.

“The main thing that stood out there was the coaching staff and how much they wanted me. I have a great relationship with the pitching coach and I’ve gotten to know him on a personal level.”

The 6-3 175-pounder, whose vertical break on the fastball and change was among the best at the Ohio  Top Prospect Games in June after being put on the “sleeper list” following the PBR Southern Ohio Preseason All-State event in February, brings a lot of promise to the next level.

“They like my projectability a bit,” Lux noted. “It’s something we talked about. I’m still tall and lanky, but being in the weight room and on a meal plan will increase my size and should increase my velo. The sky’s the limit from there.”

A four-pitch mix to go along with a competitive nature only adds to what Lux has to give.

“They said the main thing that stood out was my ability to compete,” Lux said.

A Driveline program the past two offseasons to go along with work in the weight room has brought improvement to his game in helping Lux become a college commit.

“The combination of Driveline and lifting has gotten me to the next level,” Lux pointed out. “When I started getting looks my freshman and sophomore years I knew playing college baseball at the highest level was what I wanted to do. I’ve gotten a lot better since then.”

It is now a reality after a commitment to the West Coast Conference school.

“When I made that phone call it hit me that I’m going out to California,” Lux said. “It was a moment of realization that … man, I did it.”

Parents, family and teammates have been a big part of the journey to this point according to Lux, along with pitching coach John Keesling.

“I’ve worked with him the past couple of years and he’s gotten me to the next level to be the best pitcher I can be,” Lux related.

Business or sport management are likely majors for Lux, a 3.6 student excited about being committed while at the same time looking forward to what lies ahead in his future.

“It’s kind of a relief,” Lux said. “Going through the recruiting process the last four or five years with all the showcases and tournaments, it’s a weight off my shoulders to make the commitment. Pacific just showed the most interest in me and I built a better relationship with them than everyone else I was talking to.

“Now I can’t wait to compete against the best in the country,” Lux added. “All I want to do is compete with the best of the best.”