The Louisiana Knights 18s got through the weekend’s rain and made it to the finals of the Louisiana World Series, going 4-1 during the event held Thursday-Sunday at Fontainebleau High and Southeastern Louisiana University.

The Knights 18s (26-6) fell in the finals, 5-0, to the Louisiana Legends 18s at FHS on Sunday.

Knights 18s coach Jack Cressend said he was happy with the overall performance of his squad. “We played well, and we pitched pretty good,” Cressend said. “We didn’t play well in the championship. We just didn’t make the plays defensively.”

The Knights committed four errors in the final game.

In the semis, the Knights 18s knocked off their counterparts, the Knights 17s, 6-5, as Zac Hawkins smashed a walk-off double with two outs, propelling his team to victory Saturday at FHS.

In the seventh, trailing 5-4, the 18s mounted a two-out rally as Scott Fabre and Ryan Eades both walked. Hawkins drove a pitch to left-center field, sending both of them in.

Hawkins was also the winning pitcher with four innings of relief work.

“It was a fastball on the outside corner. I knew it was a base hit, I just didn’t know how far I hit it,” Hawkins said. “All the guys ran out on the field. It was an exciting time.”

Fabre finished the game with a hit and two RBIs, while Garrett Cannizaro posted a hit and a run batted in and Ross Hardy recorded two singles.

Chad Gough-Fortenberry led the 17s with two singles. Robert Boudreaux and Jacob Palmisano posted a hit, a run and an RBI for the 17s.

James Abraham, Colt Bruhl and Wes Rea accounted for the other hits by the 17s. Jason Greenleaf (0-2) suffered the loss in relief.

The Knights 18s opened the competition by beating the Louisiana Shockers, 11-0, behind Bryan Picou’s five-inning, five-strikeout, three-hit performance Thursday at FHS.

Eades went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored and a steal, while Hawkins singled and drove in a pair. Torin Lucas went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI, while Chad Livingston collected a hit and an RBI.

The Knights 18s continued their winning ways with a 4-0 victory over the Southland Hogs behind Matty Ott pitching six innings, allowing two hits with nine strikeouts.

Cannizaro had a hit an RBI and a run scored, while Eades also drove in a run. Hawkins, and Picou each had a hit and scored a run. Logan Gares and Sam Scheibal got the other hits for the 18s.

The Knights 18s won their third game, 2-0, over the All-Star Indians on Saturday, putting them in the semis.

Picou had a solo homer. Gares drove had a single and an RBI. Troy Patterson and Cory Thomas accounted for the other hits.

Lucas threw six-shutout innings for the win with five strikeouts and three walks. Cannizaro picked up his first save of the summer.

Knights 18s coach Cressend said the event went very well despite the weather.

The 17s, who played all their games at Fontainebleau, went 3-1 in the Louisiana World Series. They opened with an 8-3 win over the All-Star Cardinals.

Bruhl singled and tripled, scored twice and drove in one. Gough-Fortenberry had a hit and drove in a pair. Palmisano and Ross Weathers both collected a hit and an RBI.

The Knights 17s won their second game, 7-4, over the Louisiana Legends 17s Thursday. Scott Malaschak had a hit, while drawing two walks and scoring three times. Weathers had the Knights only RBI. Abraham had a single, double and a run scored.

Blaise Allen (3-2), the winning pitcher, gave up no earned runs on one hit with five walks and two strikeouts, while hitting a batter.

The Knights 17s advanced to the semifinals with their win, 4-1, over the Baton Rouge White Sox Friday.

Rea (2-0) went the distance, allowing no earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

Bruhl doubled, drove in two runs and scored one.

Logan Peterson singled and had an RBI, while Michael Pustanio had a hit and scored a run.

Bruhl, who finished the event 4-for-8 with four runs scored and three RBIs, said the Knights 17s stepped up in all phases.

“Our pitching was the main thing that held us in every game. We couldn’t have asked for more from our pitchers,” Bruhl said. “Our bats woke up. We were hitting as a team. We came together as one.”

Bruhl added the coaches did a phenomenal job.

The 17s final game was loss in the semis. Knights 17s coach Chris Pool said he was really happy with the way his team competed throughout the tournament.

“I felt like that was the best we had played all summer,” Pool said. “We played some older teams, and to walk away from that 3-1 was a big accomplishment. I was proud of the way we played.”