Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University Baseball team began preparations for the 2015 season this past week with the start of fall practice. The team also completed their 2015 roster with the addition of five student-athletes, including transfers from Connecticut and TCU as well as a junior college transfer from Garden City (KS) Community College.

“I could not be more excited to start fall practice and to begin working with this team,” said fourth-year Head Coach John Russo. “We have a diverse team that combines a number of returning contributors with a very talented group of newcomers. Our recruiting class, including these last five student-athletes, brings with it not only talent, but a wealth of experience as well.”

Joining the Pride is:

Chris Bonk
Junior, 6-5, 220
Pitcher
Fort Collins, CO/Rocky Mountain/Garden City CC

At Garden City Community College: Played for two years at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas…First team all-conference and second team All-Region VI in 2014…Named GCCC Male Athlete of the Year…Was 10-1 with a 4.06 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 2014…Helped team to second place finishes in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference West Division…Two-time NJCAA Academic All-America selection…High School: Lettered in baseball and basketball at Fort Collins (CO) High School…Helped team to 2010 Class 5A Colorado championship and to the Front Range Conference title with a 24-2 record…Part of a conference championship team in 2011…Named to all-conference honorable mention team as a senior in 2011…Two-time first team Academic All-Colorado…Posted a 5-1 record with one save, a 3.71 ERA and 50 strikeouts as a senior…Was 4-0 as a junior with a 3.59 ERA.

Personal: Lists “Field of Dreams” as his favorite movie…Started playing baseball at age 8…Began career at Missouri State, but did not pitch for the Bears...Business major.

Coach Russo on Chris Bonk: “Chris is a very accomplished junior college pitcher who attacks the strike zone with multiple pitches. His maturity will enable him to be a leader both on and off the field for this team. Chris has the ability to contribute to the starting rotation on the weekends this spring.”

Alex Cosenza
Freshman, 6-2, 195
Pitcher
Massapequa Park, NY/Massapequa

High School: Played baseball and basketball at Massapequa High School…Member of two Nassau County Class AA championship teams…All-Long Island selection as a junior…Named to All-Nassau County Team as a junior and senior…John Cody Award recipient in 2013 as the Nassau County Playoffs Most Valuable Player…Two-time all-conference selection in basketball…Named to scholar-athlete team three-times.

Personal: Has one sister and one brother…Hobbies include golf…Lists “House of Cards” as his favorite television show and “Shutter Island” as his favorite book…Aspires to a career as a lawyer or sports agent…Political science major.

Coach Russo on Alex Cosenza: “Alex joins the Hofstra pitching staff after a successful high school career at Massapequa. His command with the fastball and his compliment of off speed pitches will give Alex the opportunity to continue his success at the college level.”

Max Dolente
Freshman, 6-1, 235
First Base
Devon, PA/Conestoga

High School: Played three years of baseball and two years of football at Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pennsylvania…First team all-area pick in 2013…All-league first team selection as a junior…Named to All-Southeastern Pennsylvania Third Team in 2013…Ranked as the number two first baseman in the Philadelphia Area Class of 2014 by the Philadelphia Inquirer…All-league honorable mention in football…Member of state runner-up team in baseball as a senior.

Personal: Has two brothers and one sister…Names Florida Georgia Line as his favorite band…Lists Ryan Howard, Lesean McCoy and Joel Emblid as his favorite athletes…Started playing baseball at age 3…Habitat for Humanity and United Way volunteer.

Coach Russo on Max Dolente: “Max is a strong left-handed hitter who has the potential to hit for a lot of power. As he continues to develop into becoming a complete hitter, Max has an extremely high ceiling. It would not surprise me if by the end of his career, Max finds himself hitting in the middle of the order.”

Brett Johnson
Senior
Utility
Little Elm, TX/Plano/TCU

At TCU: Played three years of baseball at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas…2013: Played in 42 games, starting 23…Batted .234 with three doubles and 10 RBIs…First team All-Big 12 Academic selection…2012: Played in 47 games, starting 25 for TCU's NCAA Super Regional team…Batted .228 with seven doubles, one home run and 10 RBIs… Named to Mountain West Conference All-Academic First Team…2011: Part of NCAA Regional squad…Played in 36 games, starting 19…Batted .286 with two home runs and 12 RBIs...Named to Mountain West Conference All-Academic First Team.

High School: Lettered in baseball at Plano (TX) High School…Three-time team Most Valuable Player…All-district selection in 2008, 2009 and 2010…Compiled a career batting average of .400.

Personal: Has one sister…Lists Mike Trout as his favorite athlete…Father, Allan, played football at Lehigh…Plans to attend medical school…Sports science major.

Coach Russo on Brett Johnson: “Brett Johnson is one of the best hitters I have had the pleasure of coaching. It is rare that you can add a player like Brett, who you can count on to contribute in a big way from day one. He brings unique experience with him from TCU and he has shown he can compete at the highest levels of college baseball. His ability to hit for power and average, as well as his defensive versatility makes Brett one of the top additions to any team in the conference.”

Cody Olsen
Freshman (RS), 5-10, 170
Pitcher
Commack, NY/Commack/Connecticut

At Connecticut: Spent the 2013-14 academic year at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut…Red-shirted and did not play.

High School: Played four years of baseball and two years of football at Commack (NY) High School…Two-time All-Long Island selection in baseball…Named to All-Suffolk County team as a sophomore and senior…Two-time all-conference and all-league selection…Team Most Valuable Player and captain as a senior…Named to academic honor roll in each of his four years…Was an all-county, all-division, all-league and all-conference football player.

Personal: Has two sisters…Hobbies include the beach, reading and working out…Lists Sonny Gray as his favorite athlete and “Lone Survivor” as his favorite movie…Nicknamed “Coco”…Interned with Massey Knakal Realty Services in Manhattan this past summer…Plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate…Business major with a minor in accounting.

Coach Russo on Cody Olsen: “I am thrilled to finally have Cody on campus. He was a tremendous high school player here on Long Island and is a perfect fit for our program. He is a great student and one of the best athletes on the pitching staff. We look for him to contribute to the pitching staff right away.”