After consecutive Southland Conference Tournament titles and a regular-season crown, what is next for the Cowboys?

Having built and established a winning program, head coach Justin Hill has the even tougher task of staying on top.

This is where the real questions surrounding college baseball come in. Who stays and who goes will decide how much restocking McNeese State will have to do next season.

“They are all back until they say they aren’t coming back,” Hill said. “You don’t know with the draft (July 17-19) and everything, but they all say they want to come back. We will see.”

Gone for sure are Reid Bourque and Julian Gonzales, the program’s two mainstays. Both played more than 200 games and contributed to the Cowboys’ success.

They are the bridge to pre- and post-storm days. The duo were defense-first-type players and leaders in the program.

“It has been a great five years,” Gonzales said. “We were fortunate enough to come here when there was a great culture with great leaders and build on it.

“We have tried to leave it in a better place.”

Now it’s up to those who are coming back to make that culture continue, Hill said.

Two possible returners are Brad Burckel and SLC Player of the Year Payton Harden. Both have thoughts of pro careers, but with smaller minor league systems and fewer draft rounds, they could also benefit from staying put.

Harden is two hits from the all-time Cowboys record of 254 set by Joe Provenzano while Burckel could return as the league’s best all-around player.

“I will have to wait and see what I’m going to do and what my options are,” Burckel said.

Harden finished the season leading the league in hitting with a .378 average despite a slow start. He drove in a career-high 44 runs and stole 26 bases.

Burckel, an all-SLC selection at second base, hit .373 to finish second in the league. He had 10 home runs and drove in 44, both tied for the club lead. He was also a perfect 18-for-18 in stolen base attempts.

One guy who wants to be back and is planning on it is Tré Obregon. Limited to 15 games by injury, the switch-hitting designed hitter hit .357 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 15 games.

He has requested an extra year from both the SLC and NCAA.

“I think I’ll be back,” Obregon said. “I really don’t want it to end with an injury. I want to play one more year.”

Three other hitters with better than .300 averages could also be back. Andruw Gonzales (.354), Josh Leslie (.331) and Braden Duhon (.329) all have eligibility remaining after playing big roles in this year’s success.

Leslie fought back from injury to hit six homers and drive in 33 in 39 games. Duhon scored 32 runs and drove home 37, mostly from the leadoff spot after taking over in right field.

Kade Hunter, who hit .282 with seven homers and 33 RBIs, also has eligibility remaining. He took over the DH role when Obregon went down.

SLC Pitcher of the Year Grant Rogers is expected back after a 7-4 season that saw him post a 4.26 ERA. Ty Abraham and Bryson Hudgens hope to return from injuries that limited their seasons, and with fully recovered Chance Stone, Hill said McNeese has the start of a solid rotation.

Hudgens was supposed to be the staff ace but went down with an arm injury four innings into the season. He is rehabbing but has yet to throw, Hill said.

While the wounds of losing in the championship series are still fresh, Hill said there is hope for a third title in four years.

It all depends on who stays and, more importantly, who stays healthy.