Rodney Lamontagne of Auburn pulls in a yellow perch April 14 at Lake Auburn. Lamontagne and his friend, Peter Voisine of Hartford, say they were hoping to catch salmon or lake trout, but the perch were good at stealing their bait. “Even if all we catch is sunfish,” Lamontagne says, “I still enjoy coming out to the lake.” Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Curtis Stanley, left, and Ryan “Greeny” Walter of the Auburn Public Works Department install a new basketball backboard April 13 at Troy Barnies Basketball Court. The old backboard was damaged over the winter. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Wyatt Henry, 7, awaits a pitch April 10 from his father, Jeremy, at Pettingill School Park in Lewiston, as Wyatt’s sister, Rylee, 13, collects balls. Wyatt says he is eager to play baseball this spring, and describes his father as a “good baseball dad.” Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Albert Porter, in red, and Gabriel Mercedes trade blows April 9 during the Getting Gritty in the City boxing event at the Lewiston Armory at 65 Central Ave. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Alexis Record, 17, descends the staircase April 9 at the Horatio and Ella Foss Mansion Mansion in Auburn. Record, who got a dress at the 9th annual Fairy Godmother Prom Gown Giveaway, is planning to wear it to her prom at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in South Paris. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Sarah Moore of Lisbon High School clears 5 feet 2 inches during a throwers and jumpers meet April 15 in Lisbon. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Buckfield track and field coach Annette Caldwell, second row, center, is surrounded by her team April 11 at the Leavitt Area High School track in Turner, where the Bucks are practicing once a week this season. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Gene Grant of Poland Regional High School slides April 14 into third base, ahead of the throw. Grant, however, would slide off the bag, allowing Zach Winchester of Gray-New Gloucester High School to tag him out, at Central Maine Community College in Auburn. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Jamie Karaffa, center left, who teaches eighth grade at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School in Poland, is escorted to the school’s stage April 12 by Stephanie Bishop, vice president of the Milken Educator Awards. Karaffa received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award, presented by the Milken Family Foundation of Santa Monica, Calif. The award recognizes “inspired excellence in the world of education by honoring top educators around the country.” Daryn Slover/Sun Journal