Ulloa Hangs Up Coaching Spikes

Ed Ulloa, who coached Mater Dei the past three seasons, has resigned for health reasons. Ulloa, 60, had laser angioplasty surgery on April 2, and decided the next day that he should focus less on softball.

“It’s a stressful position at Mater Dei, and I didn’t want to mess up my health anymore,” said Ulloa, who guided the Monarchs to the Southern Section Division I finals the last two seasons. “It’s hard, but I can enjoy my grandkids longer.”

Ulloa had triple bypass surgery in 1985. He retired then as an engineer, but continued coaching football, which he has done for 26 years. He got involved in coaching softball 12 years ago.

His goal is to get healthy enough to continue coaching lower-level football at Mater Dei, which he has done the last three seasons. He previously coached softball at Upland and football at Irvine.

Assistant Ernie Rodriguez will run the Monarch softball program for the remainder of the season.

LOOKING AHEAD

In the Michelle Carew Classic today at Peralta Park, Pacifica will play Rosary. The tournament continues through the week.

Empire favorite Kennedy, which lost its first two league games, plays a critical home game today against Cypress. Sea View League favorites Aliso Niguel and Laguna Hills play today on the latter’s home field. Los Alamitos plays at Fountain Valley in the Sunset League today, and at Esperanza on Thursday.The Woodbridge tournament begins on Saturday.

If you have an item or idea for the softball report, you can fax us at (714)966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.henderson@latimes.com

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SOFTBALL TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School League Rec 1. Foothill (1) Century 13-1 2. Canyon (4) Century 13-5 3. Pacifica (5) Garden Grove 9-2 4. Fountain Valley (NR) Sunset 12-5 5. Kennedy (2) Empire 8-4 6. Rosary (NR) Serra 13-6 7. Esperanza (3) Sunset 12-4 8. Laguna Hills (6) Sea View 17-4 9. Loara (7) Empire 14-3 10. Marina (NR) Sunset 7-6

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Others: El Dorado (9-5), El Toro (11-5), Los Alamitos (6-7), Mater Dei (11-7), Santa Margarita (11-4).

Last week’s rankings in parentheses