CSUN’s Clayton Signs Contract With Mariners : Baseball: Player-of-the-year finalist passes up his final year of college eligibility.

Cal State Northridge pitcher-first baseman Craig Clayton, taken by the Seattle Mariners in the sixth round of this week’s amateur baseball draft, signed a contract late Tuesday night with the American League club, Clayton said.

“It wasn’t a six-figure contract, but it was a very fair amount offered for that round,� said Clayton, who batted .364 and led Northridge with 14 wins this season.

Clayton, one of the finalists for college baseball’s player-of-the-year-award this season, will leave Friday for the Mariners’ mini-camp in Tempe, Ariz. He will begin his season June 17 for Class-A Bellingham (Wash.) as a third baseman.

Along with Northridge teammate Scott Sharts, Clayton had to make a choice whether to sign a professional contract or return for his senior season with the Matadors.

Sharts was put in that position Monday night when the Matadors’ slugging first baseman learned he had been drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 10th round.

It was not the first time he had been drafted, but this time he found out about it the same day.

Sharts, who also pitches, had been drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates after graduating from Simi Valley High in 1988. That time he went in the 56th round--and learned about it long after the draft was over. “I found out about it about two-and-a-half weeks faster this time,� Sharts said.

Tonight, Sharts is scheduled to hear what the Indians have to offer when team officials visit him at his Simi Valley home.

This much he knows for sure:

* He was drafted lower than he had hoped.

* The Indians want him to hit, not pitch.

* Northridge wants him to return for his senior season and again excel in both departments.

Publicly at least, Sharts is noncommittal. However, he will say he has done some homework. For instance, he knows that prospects who have performed well have advanced rapidly through the Indians’ farm system.

“I’ve been looking into who they have at first base and it looks like a pretty good opportunity,� Sharts said.

Sharts is among 15 Valley-region players who were drafted and are still considering their options. The others are Rio Mesa High’s Dmitri Young (Cardinals, No. 4 overall), Burroughs High’s Mike Rossiter (Athletics, No. 38 overall), UCLA’s Joel Wolfe (A’s, third round), Canyon High’s Erik Hiljus (Mets, fourth), Camarillo High’s Mike Muncy (Yankees, 10th), Stanford’s Scott Weiss (Cubs, 10th), Mission College’s Tom Gibson (Tigers, 10th), USC’s Jeff Cirillo (Brewers, 11th), The Master’s Andy Martin (Phillies, 13th), Westlake High’s Rob Neal (Twins, 14th), Chatsworth High’s Mitch Root (Cubs, 16th), Cal State Fullerton’s Frank Charles (Giants, 17th), Sacramento State’s Mike Teich (Pirates, 32nd) Moorpark College’s Del Marine (Tigers, 37th).

Charles, a former Montclair Prep catcher, said he would sign. Charles spent his senior season at Cal State Fullerton as a first baseman and designated-hitter. He will report this week to play catcher for the Giants’ Everett, Wash., rookie team.