ERIE — Penn State-Behrend baseball coach Paul Benim knew what he was getting with Ryan Geibel — he just didn't think he'd have to rely on him so soon.

Geibel, a freshman catcher for the Lions from East Butler, played in 34 games, including 28 as a starter on a team that had a senior-oriented pitching staff.

The Butler graduate was voted the team's rookie of the year by the coaches and players.

"I know I was very excited when Ryan committed," said Benim. "I had seen him play in the summer and he was very mature for an 18-year-old high school student. We felt we needed someone of his caliber.

"He worked his tail off and worked with a senior pitcher, Andy Chrobak of New Castle. He was good, but I was surprised on what an even keel he was as a freshman," he added.

Benim has guided the Lions the past 17 years and has tallied 147 wins over the past five seasons, including a 31-13 record this season.

The Lions won the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference title for the second consecutive season by posting a 14-0 record.

Geibel, who is currently playing summer ball for the Sherrill (N.Y.) Silversmiths in the Eastern Collegiate Baseball League, came in expecting to be the starter and didn't disappoint.

""I didn't know I would play as much as I did," said Geibel. "There's a lot more time to put into it. There's the entire fall season, then lifting. You play a lot of games in a couple of months. It's a lot more tiring than high school baseball where you play two, maybe three games a week."

In 2009, Geibel batted .253 with 17 RBI, but committed only five errors.

"The most important thing was Ryan working with the pitching staff," said Benim. "Offensively, he chipped in as well. He came through on several occasions.

"Ryan gives us the positive extras. We were not asking him to hit .330 as a freshman, but next year, he's going to. Most guys, going in starting as freshmen, might hit .180, .190, but he didn't," Benim added.

"I hit a little slump earlier in the year, then got better," said Geibel. "In the middle of the year, I was getting tired. Now, I know what to expect and how to schedule my time at school better."

Benim touts the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Geibel as an outstanding catch-and-throw player who has really developed.

"He began as a great blocker, but his arm is his best strength. He throws strong and accurate," Benim noted.

While some key pitchers will be graduating, the prospect of working with younger pitchers next year doesn't faze Geibel.

"The seniors took time out and would tell me what they like," said Geibel. "They were real patient with me. ... Next year will be my time to step up and be a leader. I've got to get the pitchers to trust me."

"Ryan deserves a lot of credit. He worked with our top two starters and top two relievers and matched up well with them," said Benim.

"He really handled that well. Toward the end of the year, you wouldn't have thought he was the first-year player."