Brodie Copeland, 11, one of the victims of the Nice attack, was such a hard-hitting baseball player that teammates at his baseball club in Texas called him the “Copeland Crush.”
He played second base on a team for boys his age with the Hill Country Baseball Club, in the Austin area.
Brodie and his father, Sean Copeland, 51, were killed in the attack. The family lived in Lakeway, Tex., just outside of Austin. They were on a European vacation that began in Spain before moving on to the south of France.
A tribute to the father and son was set up on the Facebook page of the baseball team, where Brodie had played since 2014. It shows Brodie frolicking in the French Riviera waters.
“Immediately, he made an impact on all of the coaches at HC,” said a fund-raising page set up by the owner of the club, Jonathan Paiz. “Sean was very supportive and proud to be a part of the HC family.”
Mr. Paiz said in a telephone interview that Brodie got his nickname because he would “crush” it when he was at bat.
“Basically, he would get up there and hit the ball hard,” Mr. Paiz said.
He said Mr. Copeland had been one of the club’s biggest supporters, “the most fantastic human being — he always went out of his way.”
The baseball group’s Facebook page has become a forum for remembrance and mourning.
“No words can describe how we feel,” wrote Jeff Petry. “Sean and Brodie touched our lives in so many ways. Such a good man and a great kid and teammate.”
“We will miss you #8,” wrote another man, Bill Bishop, referring to Brodie’s jersey number. “You will be missed but we know you were needed for bigger and better things.”
Mr. Copeland worked at Lexmark Corporation, according to a statement from the company. “Sean was not only a terrific leader in the company but a phenomenal person who will be dearly missed.”
“Our hearts go out to Sean and his family, and for everyone who is suffering in France and elsewhere from this senseless violent act,” it said.
