Public to select new voice at Coors Field

The search for a new public address announcer at Coors Field has been narrowed to three finalists.

The public has 48 hours, beginning at noon today, to pick the winner.

Englewood resident Jim Hudson, 37, Denver resident Conor McGahey, 22, and Westminster resident Reed Sanders, 25, were chosen from among 18 candidates.

Their audition tapes will be posted online at ColoradoRock ies.com for the public to hear and vote. The winner will be announced at 8:50 a.m. Friday on KOA-AM by previous announcer Alan Roach, who resigned after 15 years.

ACADEMIC CASUALTIES University of Colorado running back Thomas Perez and safety Reggie Foster will be held out of spring practice for academic reasons, Buffaloes football coach Dan Hawkins said.

In position switches as spring drills opened, Ch'apell Brown has moved from defensive back to running back, and Joe Sanders switches from linebacker to tight end.

IRWIN SPEECH Champion golfer Hale Irwin will speak at the CU commencement ceremony at Folsom Field at 8:30 a.m. May 11. The public is invited.

PIONEERS FALL The University of Denver hockey team dropped to 15th in both national polls released Monday.

The Pioneers (21-15-4) dropped five spots in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll and four spots in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll.

Colorado College (18-17-4) fell three places to No. 19. in the USCHO.com poll.

PLUME HONORED Rocky Mountain Rage defenseman Clay Plume has been named the player of the week by the Central Hockey League.

RITZENHEIN INJURED Dathan Ritzenhein, a former University of Colorado runner, pulled out of this week's 2007 USA 8-kilometer Championships with a foot injury.

WAKE'S UP Denver resident Emily Copeland-Durham won the pro women's title Saturday at the International Water Ski Federation's Pan Am Regional Wakeboard Championships in Miami.

RAPIDS WIN Dan Gargan scored in the 32nd minute to help Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids to a 1-0 exhibition victory against English fourth-division team Barnet FC in London.