Porter Shomo Wins 2024 Best Ball Championship & $10,000

[Greg Ambrosius]

Porter Shomo of Ashburn, Virginia won our second annual NFBC Best Ball Championship and that $10,000 grand prize as he bested a record field of 816 teams. This was the second year of this national championship and Porter entered five teams, winning three league titles and finishing 1st, 30th and 130th overall.

He drafted this championship team on March 3rd and won his league title handily with 15,578 points. That of course was the winning total in the overall contest as well, with Porter's Goose BB5 team finishing 166 points ahead of Scott Grogan's team for the title. Scott earned $3,500 for his runner-up finish. Rounding out the Top 5 were last year's Best Ball champion Aaron Jones ($3,000), Kyle King ($2,500) and justin audia ($2,000). We paid the Top 28 overall in the NFBC Best Ball Championship, while paying the Top 2 teams in each league, including $600 to the league champion.

This was the second year for our Best Ball National Championship, which uses a point-scoring system over all 27 weeks of the MLB regular season. Leagues consisted of 12 teams and 46-round drafts. The computer picked a team's optimal scoring lineup each week and points were accumulated each week and added up over the 27 weeks of the season. The teams with the most points won their leagues and the overall prize money. Entry fee was $150 per team.

Shomo first joined the NFBC in 2019 and last year he had two teams finish in the Top 25 of the Best Ball Championship. This year he even made it to Las Vegas and competed in the Las Vegas Main Event league that produced our overall champion, Clark Olson. He won the three Best Ball Championship league titles and added a $100 Best Ball Double Up league title to his resume.

Shomo drafted from the third spot in this 12-team league and built his foundation around Bobby Witt Jr. and Rafael Devers. His complete draft will be listed shortly.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this second year contest and congrats to all of the prize winners. We will return with the NFBC Best Ball Championship in 2025 with an even bigger prize pool. Enjoy.

Here's the final standings:

2024 NFBC Best Ball National Championship
Top 100 Teams Overall:
1 Porter Shomo Goose BB 5 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1142 15,578
2 SCOTT GROGAN GROGAN $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #390 15,412
3 Aaron Jones Jones BB19 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #673 15,392
4 Kyle King BB KING $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1526 15,269
5 justin audia audia $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #895 15,251
6 Brian Bellinger Hoss BB6 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1828 15,201
7 Bob Catsiroumpas BBall 1s $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #365 15,110
8 Joshua Dawalt DeWALT BB NFBC Best Ball Championship #281 15,102
9 Derek Eckman EckofaYear $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1280 15,101
10 Richard Talley BB 03 Express $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1365 15,083
11 Matt Poole DW BB1 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #894 15,060
12 ken little King Ken 3 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1256 15,003
13 Jim Costello Scrubz $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #561 14,976
14 Bob Catsiroumpas BBall 2__s $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #561 14,944
15 CHRISTOPHER MIERZWA MIERZWA $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1209 14,938
16 Henry Williams Williamsbb2 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1290 14,900
17 Bob Catsiroumpas BBall 9__2 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1501 14,816
18 Aaron Jones Jones BB15 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #506 14,809
19 Mark Puleo Puleo $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1772 14,806
20 SPENSER AYRES AYRES-BB3 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1515 14,792
21 HENRY STILL STILL $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #924 14,770
22 ADAM JACOBS Grama's Gang $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1142 14,746
23 Mark Bendar Strike Force Best Ball $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1710 14,745
24 MICHAEL REGAN Heartless_BB $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1617 14,743
25 Langston Spotts Spotts $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1295 14,717
26 Kevin Franz Franz $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1617 14,712
27 Andrew Liesch Andrew BB 10 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1179 14,696
28 Michael Dunham It is what it is $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1828 14,688
29 Matt Bush Bush $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #685 14,646
30 Porter Shomo One for the dough $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1845 14,624
31 DARREN MATUSEN WM-BB2 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1501 14,611
32 Aaron Jones Jones BB21 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1064 14,597
33 Andy Behrens S.T. Loaf $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1845 14,576
34 Thomas Greenwald Valhalla of Decadence BBC $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #459 14,572
35 David Matthew Hinkel Ninja2 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1703 14,561
36 Bryan Bevis Bevis $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #600 14,543
37 Brendan Thayer Thayer $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #807 14,522
38 Robert Lester 25 Lighters $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #961 14,509
39 Bob Catsiroumpas BBall 7__nP $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1365 14,501
40 Brian Bellinger Hoss BB3 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1426 14,500
41 Brian Bellinger Hoss BB5 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1703 14,478
42 WILLIAM FESER First Round Closer 2 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1248 14,475
43 Joshua Dawalt DeWALT BB $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1279 14,472
44 Erich Schulte Mi Equipo $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1632 14,459
44 Bryan Bevis Andrew Best Ball1 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1802 14,459
46 Zachary Waxman Waxman NFBC Best Ball Championship #213 14,454
47 Eric Albright EA Sports BB 14 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #914 14,451
48 DARREN MATUSEN WM-BB3 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #924 14,440
49 Jeff Patrico Patrico $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #924 14,404
50 Bryan Bevis Bevis $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #936 14,403
51 Abishai Al-Doory Al-Doory $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1772 14,397
52 AARON LACHELL LACHELL $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1290 14,396
53 Brian Bellinger Hoss BB $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #600 14,392
54 Keith Willingham KW BB2 NFBC Best Ball Championship #213 14,380
55 Mike Ballschmiede optiBall - the Uno NFBC Best Ball Championship #149 14,376
56 DAVID GACIOCH GShockers24 BBO1 NFBC Best Ball Championship #281 14,362
57 Jim Costello Scrubz 2 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #771 14,359
58 PAUL CORTRIGHT CORTRIGHT $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1710 14,343
59 Charles Breining Breining - Best Ball $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1295 14,340
60 Brian Bellinger Hoss BB2 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #642 14,338
61 Eric Albright EA Sports BB 2 NFBC Best Ball Championship #133 14,333
62 Matt Bush Bush $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #936 14,314
63 Alex Mcphee Mcphee $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1856 14,301
64 Andrew Liesch Andrew BB 1 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #320 14,295
65 Brendan Thayer Thayer $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1168 14,287
66 Andrew Liesch Andrew BB 9 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1142 14,283
67 Bryan Bevis Bevis $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #894 14,282
68 Joe Anthony JA La Soul BB $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1317 14,277
69 Bob Catsiroumpas BBall 4 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #914 14,273
70 Aaron Jones Jones BB12 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #397 14,268
71 Brian Hays BIG LUSCIOUS II $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1179 14,265
72 Joshua Dawalt DeWALT BB $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #506 14,261
73 Joe Randall Randall $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1772 14,257
74 NICHOLAS HERBSTMAN Hepcats-0007 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #914 14,254
75 BOB SHREVES SHREVES $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1703 14,252
76 DARREN MATUSEN WM-BB6 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1170 14,238
77 DARREN MATUSEN WM-BB4 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1632 14,235
77 Robert Lester Plakata NFBC Best Ball Championship #111 14,235
79 Bryan Bevis Bevis $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1515 14,234
80 Robert Blackman Double Bs VII $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1444 14,230
81 SEAN SULTAIRE SULTAIRE $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #390 14,226
82 RICHARD BARBERA Bums $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1604 14,223
83 Kevin Franz Franz $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1168 14,218
84 MICHAEL INDRISANO INDRISANO $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #936 14,212
85 Eric Albright EA Sports BB 7 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #432 14,211
86 Mike Ballschmiede optiBall - the Ocho $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1047 14,204
87 Aaron Jones Jones BB9 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #341 14,201
88 Scott Feschuk FeschukBB4 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #990 14,190
89 Spencer Thurmond BBCHAMP TM 15 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1168 14,183
90 Zachary Waxman Waxman $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1426 14,173
91 Jack Bronkie ChixDigTheLngBall $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #459 14,169
92 KEVIN OBRIEN OBRIEN $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #673 14,165
93 Bob Catsiroumpas BBall 6__wP__WR $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1280 14,149
94 Bryan Usselman Natural Hustle $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1617 14,148
95 Aaron Jones Jones BB13 $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #414 14,147
96 Patrick Smith cover thy bases $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1501 14,143
97 MICHAEL GAVIN GAVIN $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #642 14,108
98 Scott Caps CaPro $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1280 14,105
99 Erich Schulte Schulte $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #1828 14,104
99 Robert Rooney Rooney F $150 NFBC Best Ball Championship #807 14,104

[Greg Ambrosius]

Porter Shomo drafted 3rd in this March 3rd NFBC Best Ball Championship slow draft. These were 12-team, 46-round, straight serpentine drafts. Here were his draft results:

Goose BB 5
1 3 Witt Jr., Bobby SS Goose BB 5
2 22 Devers, Rafael 3B Goose BB 5
3 27 Harris II, Michael OF Goose BB 5
4 46 Hoerner, Nico 2B Goose BB 5
5 51 Schwarber, Kyle OF Goose BB 5
6 70 Valdez, Framber P Goose BB 5
7 75 Diaz, Yainer C Goose BB 5
8 94 Naylor, Josh 1B Goose BB 5
9 99 Ragans, Cole P Goose BB 5
10 118 Soler, Jorge OF Goose BB 5
11 123 O'Hoppe, Logan C Goose BB 5
12 142 Mullins, Cedric OF Goose BB 5
13 147 Ober, Bailey P Goose BB 5
14 166 Julien, Edouard MI Goose BB 5
15 171 Duran, Jarren OF Goose BB 5
16 190 Pena, Jeremy UT Goose BB 5
17 195 Woo, Bryan P Goose BB 5
18 214 Chapman, Matt CI Goose BB 5
19 219 Mountcastle, Ryan 1B Goose BB 5
20 238 Kepler, Max OF Goose BB 5
21 243 Detmers, Reid P Goose BB 5
22 262 Melendez, MJ OF Goose BB 5
23 267 Cronenworth, Jake 1B Goose BB 5
24 286 Turang, Brice 2B Goose BB 5
25 291 Alzolay, Adbert P Goose BB 5
26 310 Gray, Jon P Goose BB 5
27 315 Sears, JP P Goose BB 5
28 334 Bailey, Patrick C Goose BB 5
29 339 Thomas, Alek OF Goose BB 5
30 358 Mikolas, Miles P Goose BB 5
31 363 Wells, Tyler P Goose BB 5
32 382 Singer, Brady P Goose BB 5
33 387 Vierling, Matt 3B Goose BB 5
34 406 Meneses, Joey UT Goose BB 5
35 411 Ashcraft, Graham P Goose BB 5
36 430 Corbin, Patrick P Goose BB 5
37 435 Rea, Colin P Goose BB 5
38 454 Blackburn, Paul P Goose BB 5
39 459 Nelson, Ryne P Goose BB 5
40 478 Freeland, Kyle P Goose BB 5
41 483 Ortiz, Joey 2B Goose BB 5
42 502 Flexen, Chris P Goose BB 5
43 507 Irvin, Jake P Goose BB 5
44 526 Quantrill, Cal P Goose BB 5
45 531 Bleday, JJ OF Goose BB 5
46 550 Gomber, Austin P Goose BB 5

[Greg Ambrosius]

The second annual NFBC NFBC Best Ball Championship finished with 816 teams and paid the Top 28 overall. Here were the prizes for this contest:

2024 NFBC Best Ball Championship
Overall Prizes:
1 - $10,000
2 - $3,500
3 - $3,000
4 - $2,500
5 - $2,000
6 - $1,750
7 - $1,500
8 - $1,250
9 - $1,200
10 - $1,100
11 - $1,000
12 - $900
13 - $800
14 - $700
15 - $600
16 - $550
17 - $500
18 - $450
19 - $400
20 - $350
21 - $325
22 - $300
23 - $275
24 - $250
25 - $225
26 - $200
27 - $175
28 - $150

League Prizes:
1 - $600
2 - $300

[Greg Ambrosius]

Ten of the 12 draft spots were represented in the Top 20 of the NFBC Best Ball Championship overall standings. The only draft spots that weren't represented were Nos. 2 and 7. No. 3 produced the most Top 20 teams with four teams.

Here's a look at where the Top 20 teams in the overall standings drafted from:

No. 1 - 3 teams
No. 2 - 0 teams
No. 3 - 4 teams
No. 4 - 1 team
No. 5 - 1 team
No. 6 - 1 team
No. 7 - 0 teams
No. 8 - 2 teams
No. 9 - 2 teams
No. 10 - 1 team
No. 11 - 3 teams
No. 12 - 2 teams

Nos. 1-4: 8 teams
Nos. 5-8: 4 teams
Nos. 9-12: 8 teams

[Greg Ambrosius]

Porter Shomo became our second champion of the NFBC Best Ball National Championship, joining Aaron Jones as the only champions of this contest. We'll add plenty more in future years. Let's keep tally of the national champions here:

NFBC Best Ball National Championship
Overall Champions:
2023 - Aaron Jones
2024 - Porter Shomo