Did Jimmy Claxton and Pete Standridge know each other?

In a 1964 interview Jimmy Claxton claimed he was betrayed by a "supposed friend" who told Oakland Oaks management of his true racial heritage in 1916. I had assumed it was a teammate but evidence suggests the "rat" may have been the opposing pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels on May 28, 1916, Pete Standridge. No other player on either team had previous exposure to the southpaw.

Pete Standridge was born in 1891 and raised in Enumclaw, Washington (some sources say 1892 in nearby Black Diamond, Washington). He attended Enumclaw Public School until 1907, then transferred to newly constructed Lincoln High School in Seattle (part of inaugural senior class of 1908). The Standridge family farm was located less than 100 yards from the Green River.

On the opposite bank of the Green River lay the mining town of Franklin, Washington. Claxton was born in 1892 and lived in Franklin with his father from 1905-12. Claxton began his career as a catcher. The town of Franklin is now a ghost town, a forgotten corner of the Palmer-Kanaskat National Park.

My question is: Since Claxton and Standridge were about the same age and lived within a couple miles of each other, could they have formed a battery for a town team, or faced each other in the past before their meeting on the mound in 1916. I have combed over countless area newspapers for the time 1906-09 without finding a "smoking gun" that indicates they were on the same field. So, I am soliciting the opinions of those on the board as to the likelihood they knew each other. Thank you very much.

It's possible, considering the two towns were close in proximity. I wonder what the populations of each town were - were they small towns, so small that everyone would know each other?

However, I find it unlikely - the "supposed friend" quote seems to indicate that he revealed his true heritage to someone on the team whom he trusted and that person betrayed him.

In 1910, Enumclaw had a population around 1100, and Franklin had a population of about 800 (roughly 25% African American). Claxton's father, William, was a miner & the deacon of the A.M.E. church in Franklin and probably well known. The towns were connected by a railroad tressel until the Green River Gorge Bridge was built in 1914. Here's a photo of the Bridge under construction in 1914, and the old tressel beside it.

http://www.blackdiamondnow.org/2012/08/green-river-gorge-bridge-under-construction-circa-1917.html

No definitive answer can be given but it would astounding. Standridge strangely, had a previous experience with an African American who tried to "pass" as Native American. Dick "Big Chief" Brookins had spring training with the 1909 Vancouver Beavers of the Western Canada League, where Standridge's minor league career began. Here's Brookins story:

http://www.attheplate.com/wcbl/profile_brookins_dick.html

Such small towns certainly makes it more likely that they know each other. Could be that you are correct!