Despite everything Saturday’s Lawrence High-Free State baseball game featured, it still missed one thing.

Well, about 250 things: seats.

The game at FSHS Field was a classic, pairing the No. 1- and No. 5-ranked teams in Class 6A — and intracity rivals, to boot. Both teams did boot a few at the start, but by the third inning, the Lions relaxed. They got a two-run homer from senior Tommy Mangino, some good pitching from senior Spence Chaney, and held a 7-3 lead until FSHS scored four runs in the fifth inning.

Both teams brought in their studs — FSHS senior Matt Lane and LHS senior Aaron Madill — who shut down both offenses until FSHS senior Chris Coleman came through with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.

For more than 500 fans watching, the game itself had it all.

“Yeah, 500 people standing up because there’s nowhere to sit,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “It’s a shame.”

FSHS officials brought in extra bleachers from the softball and soccer fields, but that only increased the seating from about 200 to 300. Fans accustomed to the accommodations brought folding chairs and lined the walkway around the field, but that still left nearly 150 people standing.

“That may be the most people I’ve ever seen at a baseball game there,” FSHS athletic director Steve Grant said. “On a normal day, we probably seat 200 people, and that’s cramming them in those bleachers.”

This isn’t a new problem — nor is it the only problem.

For the past five years, FSHS Field has been one of the best playing fields in the area, but a lousy place to watch a game.

There’s pittance for seating, one port-a-potty and no concession stands, which, when you have 500 people at a game, is a fund-raising faux pas.

They’ve fixed the food problem by having Hy-Vee send a catering van to games — with tasty, tasty bratwursts and hot dogs; in fact, I’d like a brat right now — and it seemed some people didn’t mind standing for part of the game.

(Actually, compared to a FSHS-LHS football or basketball game, the baseball matchup is a relaxed gabfest. People can meander, chat up friends, coaches and teachers, catch some rays and watch good baseball.)

As for the restroom situation, it doesn’t look like that problem will be solved anytime soon.

Today’s 5:30 p.m. rematch at Ice Field in Holcom Sports Complex won’t have those problems.

There’s a concession stand — though I’m not sure if the brats are as tasty … mmmm, brats — and though there is a LHS softball game at the same time, the restroom will be a welcome addition. And seating? No problem, unless 600 people attend the game.

The three bleachers at Ice hold about 150 to 200 people each, though there aren’t any plans to bring in extras.

“I don’t know where they’d put it if they could,” LHS athletics director Ron Commons said. “It never has been a problem in the past. I think those can accommodate probably the same crowd as Saturday.”

It’s good that one of the city’s fields can hold a FSHS-LHS crowd.

So when does FSHS Field get its upgrade?

With the budget problems for the both the school district and the city, it’s a priority that sits way down on the to-do list, which is a shame. FSHS Field also is used for American Legion play during the summer, when more seating and restroom facilities would be fabulous.

City commissioners said Tuesday they probably wouldn’t pick up the sports tab for high school sports, but the city should consider an upgrade at FSHS Field. I’m sure about 500 baseball fans would agree.

Especially after eating a few brats.