MINOR LEAGUES / SEAN WATERS : Shortstop Clayton Passes His Orel Exam

It is not every day that a minor leaguer gets to bat against someone such as Orel Hershiser. It is even rarer for a minor leaguer to get a hit against the 1988 Cy Young award winner, National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player and World Series MVP.

But a home run? Out of the question.

At least, Royce Clayton didn’t think it would happen.

But there was Clayton circling the bases after hitting a two-run home run on May 24 against Hershiser. Clayton, the top prospect in the San Francisco Giants farm system, accomplished the feat during his third at-bat in a double-A Texas League game. He also had a run-scoring single off Hershiser to account for all the runs in Shreveport’s 3-0 victory over the San Antonio Missions.

It was the rockiest performance in four minor-league starts for Hershiser, who returned to the Dodgers’ rotation Wednesday after being sidelined for 13 months because of reconstructive shoulder surgery.

Clayton, 21, in his fourth year in the minors, had a story to tell and began dialing the phone the minute he returned to his hotel room.

“I couldn’t wait to go home and call my family,” said Clayton, who prepped at St. Bernard High and lives in Inglewood. “My dad has been a Dodger fan his whole life.”

But Royal Clayton, who boasts that he has leased cars to former Dodger greats Don Newcombe, Willie Crawford and Willie Davis, said he switched allegiance once he read that Hershiser was pitching against his son’s team.

“I want Orel to do well, to make his comeback,” Royal said. “I appreciate his ability. But that’s my son.”

Royce retold the story about the magical moment to his father, giving as much detail as Vin Scully would announcing a Dodger game.

“It was a big deal for him to call me,” said Royal, whose elder son Royal Jr. plays in the New York Yankees farm system. “It was an exciting moment.

“You have to be fortunate to hit a home run off a famous person like Hershiser.”

In his first appearance against Hershiser, Royce struck out.

“It was a questionable call,” he said. “It was a sinker away. A good pitch. I couldn’t hit it for sure.”

The next time he batted, he hit the ball hard to center field, but the wind slowed it down and the ball was caught for another out.

Then came the home run.

“I hit a sinker or fastball away,” Royce said. “I caught all of it and hit it to deep right-center. All I could think about is how I would tell my father.”

In his last at-bat, Royce knocked in another run with a single and finished with two hits, two runs scored and three runs batted in.

His performance was broadcast on the local news and his family received several calls from friends.

“This was a big deal for him to hit the ball off Orel,” Royal said. “He’s like an idol.”

Said Royce: “Orel still has great stuff. As far as I could tell he hasn’t lost much if anything at all.”

Baseball America Magazine lists Clayton as the top player in the San Francisco Giants organization and Manager Roger Craig said during spring training that he wouldn’t be afraid to put Clayton in the starting lineup. But the Giants would prefer that Clayton not skip a level of the minors. Royal believes his son’s age is a factor.

“(Royce) might be in the majors this year, but he’s still a young fellow,” Royal said.

The next night, Royce had two more home runs and a single against the Missions.

A good night, but not worth a phone call home.

Getting a grip on success--Who would have guessed a year ago today that Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela would be pitching in the minor leagues? Seems even more unlikely that two local players would be playing against them.

Two days before Clayton was battling Hershiser, Chris Haslock, who attended Cal State Dominguez Hills, was trying to outpitch Valenzuela.

This time score a victory for the veteran.

Haslock pitched in relief for the High Desert Mavericks while Valenzuela started for the California Angels’ Class-A affiliate in Palm Springs.

“I was battling Fernando, we were throwing the same ball,” said Haslock, who gave up three runs, three hits and four walks in three innings. “But most of his pitches were finding the (catcher’s) glove. Mine weren’t.

“I think I was paying the price for the time I spent on the golf course that day.”

Wedding bell blues--This past winter, Sean Berry married high school sweetheart Linda Robertson, who was a cheerleader at West Torrance. Berry called his good friend Chris Donnels, who also was planning his wedding, and told him not to schedule anything for Nov. 3. Donnels later called to say he was getting married the same day.

“I wanted to go to his wedding and he wanted to go to mine,” Berry said. “It was difficult for some of our guests who were invited to both weddings.”

Draftables--According to Baseball America Magazine, Loyola Marymount first baseman Joe Ciccarella is expected to go in the second or third round--or even higher if he’s drafted as a pitcher--when the June amateur draft for major league teams begins on Monday.

Scouts like Lion basketball player Terrell Lowery’s ability to run and may draft him as an outfielder. Loyola relief ace Joe Caruso and catcher-third baseman Bobby Hughes also appear to be high on scouts’ lists.

At the high school level, Baseball America lists 6-foot-4, 220-pound pitcher Mike Busby of Banning and third baseman Antone Williamson of Torrance as the top potential area draftees. Both are projected to go in the middle rounds. Outfielder Tarrik Brock of Hawthorne may go as high as the sixth round.

Names and numbers

Since he was moved to the bullpen, Columbus Clipper pitcher Royal Clayton, Royce’s older brother, has lost two consecutive games after winning his first three. His earned-run average has risen from 2.43 to 3.18. . . . Wichita pitcher Rick Davis, who played at Cal State Dominguez Hills, was selected the Texas League (double-A) pitcher of the week. . . . Dodger right-hander Zak Shinall, who attended El Segundo High, has been moved to the San Antonio Missions’ bullpen.

Gary Klein contributed to this story.